Great Britain’s place in IBSA Goalball European Championships B is safe after ending their tournament on a high with a dramatic victory over Montenegro.

After missing out earlier in the day to Portugal, the GB team knew they would have to be at their best in the final game of the week as they took on Montenegro in a battle for seventh place.

But the meeting had extra meaning with the team fighting for survival in their bid to avoid relegation, duly doing so with a 4-3 victory in their final outing in Poland.

They had to wait until the very last second in order to confirm their fate however, with a great save preserving their lead with just two seconds left on the clock.

The GB team got off to the perfect start with barely two minutes on the clock when they got their first goal, though Montenegro refused to make up the numbers as they found an equaliser.

GB secured a narrow 4-3 win in Poland

That was how it stayed until half-time but GB upped their game early in the second half, two quick-fire goals putting them 3-1 ahead.

Montenegro halved the deficit as the game went into the final five minutes, though a fourth GB goal looked to have won the contest with just a couple of minutes remaining.

Another Montenegrin effort set nerves racing in the last moments however, especially with a time-out just seconds before the final whistle.

But GB valiantly held on for a tense 4-3 victory, guaranteeing their place in European Championships B for the foreseeable future.

The side’s other game on the final day had seen them in fifth-to-eighth classification action where Portugal awaited, knowing a win would guarantee a top-six finish.

But the victory was not forthcoming for the GB side, losing 6-1 before ending their time in Poland on a high.

Pic: Goalball UK

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