THE London Street Warriors skater hockey team have failed in their bid to join the elite clubs in the European Cup after falling in the play-offs.

Held in Sheffield over two days the play-offs pit the top four teams from both the national and premier league in a mini-league format where the top two go through.

Arch-rivals Hallamshire Hornets and Cardiff Panthers, both of whom the Warriors defeated last year, squeezed the south London unit into third and out of the prestigious competition.

On day one the Warriors beat Borehamwood Crusaders 4-0, drew 2-2 with Redditch Rockets and lost 3-2 to the Panthers.

It left the Eltham-based Warriors with a mountain to climb on day two but they beat the West Coast Wasps 3-2 and thumped Leasowes Sharks 6-2.

However, a 6-0 reverse against the Hornets ended any hopes of qualifying for the European Cup in Germany in May.

Warriors manager Helena Richardson said: "The ball just did not run for us but it was not for lack of chances with both Mick and Paul Tanner and Bill Lambert through with only the goalie to beat on a number of occasions.

"Normally there would only be one outcome, the ball in the net, but the clinical finishing which we've come to expect proved to be elusive."

She added: "Even had we won against Rockets, where an unfortunate and questionable penalty shot was awarded against us 55 seconds before the end, we would still have needed to beat either Hornets or Panthers."