A game-changing 64th minute strike by Maia Jackman turned what had been, to that point, an inept display by Auckland's “A Team” into an ultimately victorious one at Keith Hay Park on August 3, as the reigning champions came from behind to overcome NZ Soccer’s Under-18 Development Squad 3-1 on the penultimate day of the National Women’s Soccer Tournament. The youngsters, for whom this tournament marks the start of preparations for the Oceania U-19 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Tonga next May, were excellent value for their 1-0 lead, until Jackman’s rapier-like thrust sparked the “A Team” into life, a further two goals in the next six minutes securing the win which keeps alive their hopes of winning the title for a fifth straight year. Until that point, the reigning champions had largely been a distinct second-best to their young pretenders, for whom Zoe Thompson, in particular, was causing as many problems as the prevailing southerly wind, which at times made the playing of quality football by both sides something of a lottery. After early scares from Angela Vujnovich and Lily Somerfield - the midfielder found the target at the end of a delightful six-woman move on the quarter hour, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, the Under-18s held sway, with Thompson’s pace, in particular, causing the sluggish “A Team” defence no end of trouble. In the 21st minute, she outpaced Terry McCahill to get in a shot on goal which Stephanie Puckrin deflected for a ... goal-kick!! With the players gathering for the expected corner, the officials’ insistence that the goalkeeper hadn’t made contact with the ball left many shaking their heads in disbelief. Unperturbed, the Under-18s resumed their raids, Thompson again their inspiration in the 27th minute. With the “A Team”’s rearguard stretched, she gathered the ball on the left and slipped it through to Emma Boyack, who evaded Helen Exler’s challenge before slipping the ball home past the advancing Puckrin for a goal her side richly deserved on their display thus far. It was a strike which gave the reigning champions a bit of incentive to raise their game, but their efforts until half-time remained largely laborious, save for a dipping twenty yard strike from Rebecca Sowden which hit the crossbar, another twenty yard effort from the midfielder which sizzled past Megan Andrew’s left-hand post, and a fifteen yard effort from Vujnovich, which suffered the same fate, despite the goal being unguarded, a result of Andrew having misjudged the bounce of the ball near the edge of her penalty area. A fair few choice words flew from the lips of “A Team” coach Chris

Milicich during the interval, but the early stages of the second half replicated much of what had gone before, with youthful vigour very much to the fore. Such as in the 56th minute, when Saskia Bullen slipped the ball through once more. Puckrin advanced towards it, but misjudged the bounce, and Thompson was in like Flynn. Unfortunately for the youngster, Exler got across to cover, forcing her to shoot wide. Two minutes later, the same combination again exposed the “A Team”’s defence. This time, Puckrin parried Thompson’s shot, and managed to smother the rebound before Boyack could pounce. The goalkeeper was required to thwart Thompson once more soon after, this despite Exler having the advantage of a head start as the pair pursued Amber Hearn’s through ball. In between times, the reigning champions had gone close through Jackman, who was mere inches away from connecting with a gorgeous free-kick whipped in by Dana Humby, an early substitute for Claudia Hicks, the victim of an Emma Lothian challenge which left a lot to be desired in its execution. No doubt about it, the “A Team” was struggling, and in dire need of some inspiration to drag them back into the game. A 64th minute through ball from Somerfield looked to be destined to meet the same fate as everything else which the reigning champions had produced in the match, until ... Without the menace of Amanda Crawford and Jackman during this week, the host federation’s bid for a fifth consecutive National Championship would have been dead in the water long before this match even commenced. On this occasion, both had been well shackled by their markers, Kim Rowney and Moorwood, but a momentary lapse by the latter was all Jackman needed to drag her team out of jail and back into championship contention. Racing in off the right flank, she made a bee-line for the ball, and gave the advancing Andrew

no chance with a first-time finish which sent the sphere crashing into the net from just inside the penalty area - 1-1. The resulting transformation was stunning. The goal gave new life to the reigning champions, and the “A Team” quickly went about pressing home their new-found energy. Within moments, substitute Melanie Gooch had cut in from the left and pulled the ball back for Crawford, who, following a scramble, forced Andrew to save at her near post. In the 69th minute, the champions took the lead. Jackman was again the key, bursting down the right, round the outside of Moorwood, to get in a cross which Sowden steered into the goalmouth. The retreating figure of Rachel Doody, who has had an excellent tournament to date, couldn’t get out of the way of the ball, and it cannoned into the net off the unfortunate young defender. Within ninety seconds, the “A Team” had stretched their advantage to 3-1, Humby executing a perfect penalty after Bullen’s tackle from behind had brought the pacy Gooch to ground in the area. Moments later, Jackman, Humby and Sowden combined to create an opening for Crawford, which resulted in a shot straight at Andrew. Then in the dying minutes, Crawford, Kristy Hill and Sowden linked up to supply Vicki Rainbow with a shooting chance, which flew mere inches over the crossbar, moments before a forward thrust by McCahill saw Andrew parrying at her feet, with Crawford unable to steer home the rebound. 3-1 it remained in the “A Team”’s favour, however, a result which, with others going their way, keeps the destiny of the championship very much in their own hands. Victory over Wellington, in the tournament’s final game, will secure a fifth consecutive title, with special plaudits reserved for the contributions of Crawford, Jackman and Yvonne Vale to their cause throughout the week-long event. It’s a result which the Under-18s should also take great pride in - since copping a deserved hiding at the hands of the Canterbury, they have gone from strength to strength at this tournament, having given both title contenders, Wellington and Auckland, a real going-over for lengthy periods during their clashes, performances which bode well for their long-term objectives. “A Team”:      Puckrin; Exler (Taylor, 85), McCahill, Hicks (Humby, 20); Jackman, Sowden, Hill, Rainbow, Somerfield; Crawford, Vujnovich (Gooch, 61) Under-18s:     Andrew; Rowney (Ray, 85), Doody, Bullen (Tillson, 81); Meo, Hearn, Duncan, Lothian, Moorwood; Boyack (Hannay, 77), Thompson Referee:          Lynn Fox