Goalkeeper Carolyn Reid was the heroine as she saved two penalty strokes in a shoot-out to win England the bronze medal against New Zealand.

After a goalless 85 minutes the third-place play-off came down to a penalty barrage and despite Lisa Wooding missing England's first effort, successes by captain Kate Walsh, Crista Cullen and Chloe Rogers - plus saves by Reid from Stacey Carr and Kayla Sharland - proved the difference.

It maintained England's record of winning a medal at every Games after silvers in Kuala Lumpur and Manchester.

It was also revenge for their 4-0 defeat to New Zealand in their group game which, ultimately, cost them the chance of a gold medal.

England totally dominated possession in the opening 35 minutes but too often gave the ball away with some poor passing and woeful first touches.

Goalmouth action was certainly at a premium as both sides, particularly England, lacked the ability to play the all-important final ball.

In only the third minute Helen Richardson's throughball was helped was on by Becky Herbert but Alex Danson's reverse-stick shot from the top of the circle was off target.

Six minutes later Helen Grant had the ball in the net but it came from an illegal overhead smash which had bounced up off goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit.

Jo Ellis won England's first penalty corner in the 20th minute but Kate Walsh's drag flick was deflected wide.

Things did not get much better after half-time as England appeared to have no player confident enough to take the direct route to goal.

A flurry of shots arrived in the 50th minute with Richardson and Danson having the best two of four efforts which were blocked by the New Zealand keeper and her defenders, although none were particularly threatening.

Grant should have done much better when Cathy Gilliat-Smith picked her out after a break down the right but she shot straight at the keeper.

And a quick break from defending a New Zealand penalty corner saw Gilliat Smith race down the left and cross only for the diving Jo Ellis to deflect over an open goal with a minute to go.

Fifteen minutes of extra time could not separate the sides and the match went to its dramatic conclusion in the shoot-out.

Walsh paid tribute to the experienced Reid, telling the BBC: "She is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and probably the best at saving strokes so we were confident if we could put ours away we would win.

Reid admitted she had not realised saving Sharland's effort had secured the bronze medal.

"I was so focused I thought there was another set to go and then I saw the whole team running towards me," she said.

Coach Danny Kerry felt his side should have won the match before the strokes but was delighted with victory.

"I'm disappointed we didn't take our chances but we practised strokes and on getting the right order and Reidy certainly did the business," he said.

"I know I looked calm (during the strokes) but I wasn't."