Canterbury Ladies missed out on the Wembley Final of the Hockey 5s Championships after an agonising defeat in the last-four at Kettering.

The city club faced Premier Division table-toppers Bowdon Hightown in the semi-final in Northamptonshire on Saturday evening but despite a strong showing, were denied a place in the televised finals on January 25 after a fine performance by Amy Tennant in the Manchester side’s goal.

GB international Sally Walton put Hightown ahead inside nine minutes, but the floodgates opened with Susannah Townsend levelling within a minute and Dirkie Chamberlain putting the city club ahead on 16 minutes.

Another international Tina Cullen made it 2-2 a minute before the break and Kayleigh Humphries sent the see-saw game back into Bowdon’s favour three minutes after the turnaround.

Sarah Kerly restored parity two minutes later but two goals in three minutes, the first a penalty stroke from Walton, the second a field goal from Cullen, blew the game open, though player-coach Jen Wilson set up a tense final six minutes with a Canterbury fourth which was ultimately in vain.

Hightown will face East Grinstead at Wembley after the Sussex side edged a 1-0 win over Slough in their last-four clash.

Canterbury's men will face Sevenoaks in their semi-final at Wembley on January 25 with the final the same day, screened live on Sky Sports.