Alex Danson says it is an unbelievable feeling to have helped Team GB’s women’s hockey team to their first ever Olympic final.

The Marlow resident scored either side of a Helen Richardson-Walsh penalty as Britain beat New Zealand 3-0 to advance to the gold medal match at Rio 2016.

Reaching the showpiece event represents the culmination of four years of gruelling work since winning bronze at London 2012, as Danson explained.

“To come away from a semi-final and to be going into the final is unbelievable,” she said.

“I’m absolutely delighted. This is something that GB hockey, in terms of the 31 of us who represent this team and every player who has put on a GB shirt over the last number of years, has been working towards.

“We’ve played together and been tight as a unit so to come away with a win is just incredible.”

The 31-year-old played a pivotal role in Wednesday night’s victory as she bundled home six minutes into the second quarter to break the deadlock.

Her clever pass then put Richardson-Walsh through to win a decisive penalty stroke, before Danson calmly added a third from the spot herself.

Danson’s goals took her tally for the tournament to five and helped ensure GB realise their long held ambition of bettering the third place finish of four years ago.

Britain are the only side to have won all of their matches at the tournament, and Danson feels they can make it eight from eight if they stick to their tried and tested routine.

“It’s been one game at a time, building momentum, recovering and playing again. We’ve got one more to play and we won’t change anything about how we prepare,” she said.

“I believe we have the best tacticians in the world on our management staff and we have very intelligent players.

“That’s won us games here – concentrating for the entire 60 minutes and knowing what our roles are.”

World number ones the Netherlands overcame Germany on penalties after being held to a 1-1 draw and will face GB in the final at 9pm on Friday.

Many of those involved at the Olympics were in the England team which overcame Holland on a penalty shootout at the European Championships last year.

Coach Danny Kerry believes Friday’s opponents will, therefore, be eager to put on a better display in Brazil.

He said: “Holland in the final – they’ve probably got a bit of a point to prove after the England team and the Europeans.

“I think it will be a tight, cagey affair. They have some talented players and they will probably start as red-hot favourites but we like it that way.”

Kerry also highlighted the importance the defeat at the semi-final stage in London had on helping his team grow as a unit.

Kerry explained: “We lost a very tight semi-final to Argentina four years ago. We’ve adapted some of our training to replicate some of the thinking needed in tight games and we’ve learned some lessons.”