TROJANS' teenage hockey star Alex Danson looks set to return home from Australia without a medal from the Women's World Cup.

Despite scoring her first international goal in the 3-1 win over Ireland and laying on another in the 2-2 draw with South Africa, Danson will have to settle for the invaluable experience of playing in a top-class tournament as England's chances of making the semi-finals were virtually extinguished after a battling 3-1 defeat to hosts Australia in Perth.

They should have gained at least a point but failure to do so means they are all but mathematically out of the hunt of becoming the first England side to reach the last four in this competition. Had Slough forward Jane Smith converted an 11th-minute penalty stroke the story might have been different, but Hockeyroos defender Louise Dobson powered in a penalty corner in the 25th minute to give the home side the lead.

England's reply was instantaneous, Ipswich's Leisa King scoring her third goal of the tournament, but Australia regained the lead five minutes later when captain Katrina Powell put them in front.

The loss of Leicester midfielder Jennie Bimson and Slough's Mandy Nicholson to the sin-bin at different times in the second half did not help England's cause and Powell compounded their misery with a third goal five minutes from time.