Oxfordshire's Zoe Shipperley was left with mixed emotions after she and her England women’s hockey teammates suffered the cruellest of defeats in the final at Glasgow 2014 on Saturday night.

Shipperley, who lives at Marsh Gibbon, near Bicester, was thrilled to have won a silver medal, but shattered by the circumstances in which it came about.

England led from the 48th minute through Lily Owsley’s goal, but Jodie Kenny equal-ised for Australia with just 15 seconds left following a penalty corner.

In the penalty shoot-out, goalkeeper Rachael Lynch pulled off three brilliant saves to hand the Hockeyroos the most thrilling of victories 3-1 on penalties.

Reflecting on the game Shipperley, a full-time professional player, said: “We were absolutely devastated to have lost it in the last seconds and it is still a bit sore.

“But on reflection I am thrilled with silver and so proud of how far we have come as a team and have pulled together.

“Obviously you want gold and that is what we came for.”

Shipperley added: “We were so close, but sport is like that.

“That is the excitement of sport and what makes the game so brilliant.

“But a silver at the Commonwealth Games is great and I am thrilled with that.”