Skipper Pauline Stott blamed Great Britain's 2-1 defeat against Australia on a lack of firepower.

Denise Marston-Smith grabbed a second-half equaliser for Britain after Nikki Hudson had fired the Aussies into an 18th-minute lead but Katrina Powell snatched what proved to be the winner four minutes later.

Stott, making her 200th international appearance, said: "Overall I thought Australia had the better of the game and we never really created enough scoring chances."

But Stott is confident Britain can bounce back when they tackle Argentina tomorrow

Stott, Scotland's first Great Britain Olympic captain, said: "We're fit enough to be able to lift ourselves within 24 hours. The real battle is the mental one."

Great Britain team coach Jon Royce, acknowledging his side's strong finish against the reigning Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games champions, said: "Australia deserved to shade it. They started better and created more opportunities. We were rewarded for our positive approach in the second half."

Australia, dominant in the first half, had to hang on towards the end, defending four successive penalty corners in the final minute as Britain piled on the pressure in a last-ditch bid to snatch a point.

With Australia rampant in the opening quarter, Britain's keeper Hilary Rose made three fine saves to deny the hosts at penalty corners.

Jane Sixsmith missed a great chance on the breakaway in the 12th minute when she sent her shot wide and the Aussies made Britain pay.

Hudson, who was a constant threat down the left wing, broke the deadlock, collecting a pass and hammering home a low shot on the reverse stick.

Four minutes before the break, Rose spectacularly parried a shot by Powell as the sides turned round with Australia on top.

But it was a rejuvenated British team after the restart and, at their third penalty corner, Marston-Smith swept in the equaliser from a double switch.

Four minutes later, Powell, who was completely unmarked, restored her team's advantage, sweeping the ball in after Alyson Annan picked her out.

Britain threw everything at the Australians in a tense finish to the match but could not force an equaliser.