Middleton found the net for Britain

Cannock's Barry Middleton and Reading's Tom Bertram sealed victory for the British, who had looked destined to miss out on Athens just a few days ago.

Britain will finish fifth or sixth in the qualifying tournament, with the top seven teams earning an Olympics spot.

Middleton and Bertram scored inside the first nine minutes before Marc Coudron pulled one back for Belgium.

But the win was overshadowed by the terrorist attacks aimed at the Spanish capital on Thursday morning.

The deaths and devastation caused by a series of bombs on rush-hour trains left the British players in no mood to celebrate.

It was a bit of a hollow victory - on the coach coming back you wouldn't have thought we had won anything. David Whittle Great Britain manager

Manager David Whittle admitted it was hard to focus on a game that at one stage seemed unlikely to go ahead.

But Whittle said: "An official implored us to carry on and not allow the terrorists to disrupt things."

"After we heard we were getting additional security we were pleased to support that request.

"We told the players their morning was going to be disrupted by transport and with communications coming from home. We told them to be extra-vigilant and then to go out and qualify for the Olympics.

"It was a bit of a hollow victory. On the coach coming back you wouldn't have thought we had won anything."

Middleton opener

Britain had kept their Olympic dreams alive with a stunning 6-0 triumph over South Africa on Tuesday.

They needed to win that game 4-0 to set up the critical cross-game match against the Belgians.

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Belgium started the better, with Simon Mason making an fine early save.

But Middleton struck on seven minutes with a reverse-stick shot from the edge of the circle into the top corner.

Just two minutes later, Britain went further ahead when Reading defender Bertram fired in the first penalty corner of the game.

Belgium reduced the deficit when Coudron deflected in a penalty corner two minutes before the break.

But Britain hung on to maintain their record of not missing an Olympics since Moscow in 1980.

"The Belgians played very well and gave us a few heart-stopping moments but the defence remained resolute and they kept their focus on the game," said Whittle.