by Alex Hoad

Ryan Bertrand endured a frustrating evening as Team GB's Olympic Games campaign began with a draw against Senegal at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

The former Gillingham youngster, now a member of Chelsea's first-team squad, was named in the starting line-up for the first game by a combined British team for 52 years.

The ex-Robert Napier School, Gillingham, pupil, (pictured) who turns 23 on August 5, was one of three left-backs selected in the starting XI by Team GB boss Stuart Pearce - himself a former left-back - with Swansea City's Neil Taylor playing at right-back and Tottenham's Danny Rose used at left-wing.

The opening goal arrived on 20 minutes when an exquisite Ryan Giggs free-kick wasn't dealt with by the towering African defenders and the ball broke to Craig Bellamy who fired a low shot into the corner from 12 yards.

Almost immediately Bertrand was called into action at the other end to block a header before Sadio Mane failed to capitalise on a gilt-edged chance, being gifted the ball by GB keeper Jack Butland 20 yards out, only for the striker to dink his effort wide under pressure from the Birmingham stopper.

Butland was the busier keeper after the break but Team GB should have had a penalty after a foul on Bellamy in the box by Saliou Ciss 20 minutes from time.

However they were pegged back eight minutes from time when Senegal launched a lightning break from a GB corner which ended with Moussa Konate dinking a lovely finish over Butland to deservedly make it 1-1.

Substitute Marvin Sordell rattled the bar as GB sought a winner, but they had to settle for a point in their opening group game.

In the other group game today, Uruguay won 2-1 against UAE - whom Team GB host at Wembley on Sunday night.

Bertrand - who joined Gillingham as a nine-year-old and progressed through the youth ranks before his big-money move to Chelsea at the age of 15 in July 2005 - became the first player in history to make his European debut in the Champions League Final in Munich in May.

Orpington's Claire Rafferty was an unused substitute as Team GB's women beat New Zealand 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Her team are next in action against Cameroon in Cardiff on Saturday evening.

Follow all the latest from the Olympics with our man at the Games Alex Hoad on twitter @kentonline2012