Carshalton’s Matt Holland took his Olympic bow in the water polo tonight (Tuesday) and dived into a Serbian onslaught.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper, who started playing at Sutton and Cheam Swimming Club, could do little to prevent the favourites for the gold medal from racking up a comprehensive 21-7 win in front of water polo fan Prince William.

However, Holland turned in a notable performance with a string of saves that prevented the dominant Serbs from piling on more misery, each one brought the loudest cheers from the patriotic crowd.

He said: ‘Making saves is what I do. But Serbia are very strong side and it very difficult to maintain a high level of performance against them. I was moving about in the goal lot because they throw such good dummies with their shots.

‘In the first two quarters of the game we stayed with them but they stepped up a gear and started pressing and holding us and when you’re tired it takes that extra energy to move and help your team mates. That’s when they started to get away from us.’ Team GB held their own during the first quarter and were level going into the first break – goals from Adam Scholefield and two from Craig Figes keeping the scores all square at 3-3.

However, by the end of the second quarter goals from Rob Parker and Ciaran James were all Great Britain had to show as Serbia stormed into a 10-5 lead.

The third quarter was even less successful with a solitary James strike the only response to a further six Serbia goals.

Serbia went on to score five more goals to Great Britain’s one, from James, to run out convincing winners.

Despite the defeat, Holland was quick to thank the crowd for their support saying: ‘Getting out in the pool was brilliant. I was hoping to play and when you get out there the crowd really makes you step up a level.

‘Everything I have heard and read about this stadium says that the noise level is unbelievable which it is. When you’re in the water you can hear the noise and it makes you start buzzing.’ He added: ‘I had no idea Prince William was in the crowd. He’s a water polo boy so hopefully he thought we did alright and did GB proud.’ Great Britain, who lost their first match to Hungary, face the US next on August 2.