Football Ferns call-ups leave champions vulnerable

Reigning Lion Foundation Women’s League champions Auckland head into Saturday’s game against Waikato-BOP weakened by international call ups, giving the underdogs their best chance in recent years of toppling the Northern Conference leaders.
With a number of Auckland’s brightest young talent already drawn into the New Zealand U-17 team competing in the same conference, the call up of seven players to the Football Ferns, and two further players missing through work or study commitments gives a young Waikato-BOP side a glimmer of hope against the five time winners.

Waikato coach Nicola Demaine called on the ‘old heads’ amongst her team to lead by example. “Playing the defending champions Auckland is still a great test for the character of the team,” Demaine said.

“I am hoping that the experienced players such as Rochelle [Williams], Nicole [Stratford] and captain Alex [Shadbolt] will help keep the team focused, but also, that the less experienced girls will take the opportunity to step up and show what they can do”.

 

After a table-topping 7-1 win last week Auckland coach Richard Wilson was understandably forgiving of his side’s less-than-perfect passages.

 

"I was happy with the first half. Our build-up play was fluent while the second half was at times disjointed but we ended up scoring more goals in that half,” Wilson said.
"I'm always looking for a 90 minute performance, but I can live with scoring seven times instead.”

 

Meanwhile in the Southern Conference on Sunday, Capital Football can leapfrog leaders Mainland Pride, who they beat in Wellington last week, by returning from Dunedin’s Caledonian ground with at least a point.
New Football Fern striker Sarah Gregorius will miss the clash and Capital Football coach Johan Koutstaal is calling for others to step up and fill the void.

“We’re without one of Sarah Gregorius who scored both our goals last week, so will need someone else to step up,” Koustaal said.

“We know that FootballSouth will be fighting to get points on the board, so we have been preparing for a tough battle.”

Northern Conference:
Waikato-BOP v Auckland
Crown Park, Taupo
Sunday 7 October, 2009
Kickoff: 1pm
Referee: G Campbell Auckland (W)
In: Jessie Mathews, Libby Williams, Tayla Hetherington, Tina Kolose Out: Kristy Hill, Mel Ray, Kirsty Yallop, Maia Jackman, Anna Green, Annalie Longo, Amber Hearn (all national duty), Chelsey Wood (exam), Priscilla Duncan (OFC duties). Squad list: 1. Ashleigh Cox (GK), 3. Briony Fisher, 4. Dana Humby, 5. Emily Cooper, 6. Libby Williams, 7. Tina Kolose, 8. Melanie Gooch, 9. Grace Vincent, 10. Rebecca Tegg, 11. Stephanie Skilton, 12. Jessie Mathews, 13. Victoria Esson (GK), 14. Tayla Hetherington, 15. Jo Rombouts, 16. Sara Lovitz    

Coach: Richard Wilson
Waikato-BOP Football (L)

 

In:  Jackie Pretswell

Squad list: 1. Amanda Wilshier (GK), 2. Alex Shadbolt, 4. Alex Wood, 5. Alice Bennett, 6. Jackie Pretswell, 7. Rochelle Williams, 9. Naomi Courtney-Tennant, 10. Brogan Mathieson, 11. Katherine Robinson, 12. Nicole Stratford, 13. Caitlin Whitford, 14. Kerri O’Connell, 15. Rebecca Wall, 17. Kerri Gerrits, 18. Jessica Rollings, 19. Jodie Fleming

Coach: Nicola Demaine

Southern Conference:
FootballSouth v Capital Football
Caledonian
Sunday 8 November, 2009
Kickoff: 1pm
Referee: J Clamp

Capital Football: (W)

In: Sarah Duffin, Maria Papp, Nicola Ingham, Ellen Stirling, Noel Pinnock Out: Sarah Gregorius (international duty), Aroon Clansey (international duties), Chelsea O’Callaghan (rotation), Liang He (unavailable), Sandy Cumpstone (injured) Squad list: 1. Sarah Duffin (GK), 3. Ellen Stirling, 4. Amanda Rasch, 5. Noel Pinnock, 7. Renee Leota, 9. Alice Ireton, 10. Nicola Ingham, 11. Yumi Nguyen, 13. Terri-Amber Carlson, 14. Hannah Wall, 17. Maria Papp, 18. Kelly Stembridge, 19. Lucy Sneddon, 20. Toni West, 21. Melissa Bartlett, 23. Ronisa Lip (RGK)
Coach: Johan Koustaal (Coach)
FootballSouth

Squad List: Emily Stichbury (GK), Bianca Roy, Georgia Brown, Laura Wallis, Una Madden, Elise Mamanu-Gray, Sam Muirhead, Amelia Currier, Carena Oosterbaan, Annie Gilchrist, Kushla Glover (captain). Coach: Darren Rewi

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Modified on 07/11/2009 14:36