Old Loughtonians' Harry Martin was a relieved man after Great Britain edged into the Olympic semi-finals.

Needing only a point from the final group game with Spain last night, Great Britain scrambled over the finish line with a nervous 1-1 draw.

After enduring two Spanish penalty corners and some nail-biting refereeing decisions all in the final moments, the crowd in the Riverbank Arena greeted the final whistle with a roar of relief, echoed by Martin.

He said: “Our character in the last couple of games has shown we have the ability to deal with the pressure – coming back from 3-0 down against Australia is a great example.

“It was cagey – maybe the thought that an Olympic semi-final was on the doorstep affected us.

“But we got there in the end and it maybe it wasn’t an entertaining game in terms of hockey but in terms of drama it certainly was.

“This squad is a great bunch of guys and I am just so relieved to be through.”

It was another full house but the crowd was quickly silenced as Spain contained the GB attack and the game was reduced to a cagey affair.

With just a missed penalty corner per side, there was little action until the 31st minute when Ashley Jackson buried Team GB’s second penalty corner, much to the relief of the crowd.

Spain made all the running after the break and Richard Smith needed his goalkeeper James Fair to be on top form to save his blushes after a poor pass released Alex Fabregas to bear down on goal.

Ramon Alegre had the ball in the Team GB net on 57 minutes but the shot from outside the D did not get the required deflection – the same fate befell Jackson moments later – and then Tindall almost made it 2-0 but his touch on Jackson’s penalty corner cannoned back off the crossbar.

Despite a British appeal, Spain won a penalty corner in the 54th minute and it was duly dispatched by Pau Quemada for the equaliser.

Great Britain had their backs to the wall for the remainder of the game and with only a minute left on the clock, Spain launched one final onslaught.

A penalty corner was put narrowly wide and then a second penalty corner decision was overturned when the referees conferred. The Spanish asked for a video referral only for it to be rejected.

However, another penalty corner was awarded and this time Fair came to the rescue with a fine save off Quemada’s drive, and the drama was not over there when yet another penalty corner was awarded to Spain with only 22 seconds left on the clock.

But, much to Spain’s disgust, the referees conferred and Eduard Tubau was deemed to have hit the ball off his own leg rather than that of a Great Britain defender and the decision was once again overturned.

There was no time for further drama and the roar from the players and crowd could probably have been heard in Spain such was the relief.

Great Britain will face the unbeaten Dutch in tomorrow's semi-final while Germany take on Australia.