Young Football Ferns edged in second tour match

New Zealand’s U-17 women’s footballers continued their three match tour of Australia with a 1-2 loss in a second match against the New South Wales Institute of Sport on Tuesday night in Sydney.

The Young Football Ferns

July 13, 2010

AUCKLAND – New Zealand’s U-17 women’s footballers continued their three match tour of Australia with a 1-2 loss in a second match against the New South Wales Institute of Sport on Tuesday night in Sydney.

Olivia Chance put the Young Football Ferns  ahead in the sixth minute with a shot at the back post following incisive play from Holly Patterson, but  the home side  scored in the 28th and 50th minutes to pull ahead.

New Zealand notched a 2-0 win over the same opposition on Sunday, but NSWIS fielded an older side – including three players capped for Australia’s senior team – in the second match, not that New Zealand coach Dave Edmondson was complaining as they build towards September’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

“It was a much tougher game for us but they didn’t press us as high as the younger side did and for 30 minutes we enjoyed the extra space they gave us,” Edmondson said.

“We’re treating this like a World Cup campaign with this game representing Spain and a chance to go through with a second win.”

“The most pleasing aspect about today is the reaction from the players. They haven’t thought about the fact they’re playing Matildas or U-20s. They are just gutted they didn’t get a point or three that would’ve taken us to a quarterfinal if this was a World Cup.”

The Young Football Ferns complete their tour with a match against W-League club Sydney FC on Thursday.

New Zealand U-17 1 (Olivia Chance 6) NSW Institute of Sport 2
Sydney

New Zealand: Chloe-May GEURTS (GK / Jessica REDDAWAY 46), Rachel HEAD, Tessa MCPHERSON, Sivitha BOYCE, Katie BOWEN (captain), Rebecca BURROWS (Hannah CARLSEN 47), Kate LOYE (Kate CARLTON 47), Evie MILLYNN (Ashleigh WARD 77), Olivia CHANCE (Megan LEE 75), Hannah WONG (Grace PARKINSON 60), Holly PATTERSON.
Substitutes not used: Michelle WINDSOR.
Coach: Dave EDMONDSON

New Zealand U-17 Women Australian Tour Schedule
New Zealand U-17 v Sydney FC
Sydney
Thurs 15 July