Australia's Matildas scored their 24th win in their last 25 clashes against the Football Ferns at the AIS Athletics Track on 13 June, edging their arch-rivals 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors "A" international played in inclement conditions in Canberra. The Football Ferns enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, but found Matildas goalkeeper Brianna Davey in unbeatable form. The custodian kept out efforts from Sarah Gregorius and Amber Hearn in the first fifteen minutes, before denying the Bad Neuenahr striker in a one-on-one situation in the 25th minute. Gregorius pounced on a blunder by Alanna Kennedy to bear down on goal, and she duly rounded the approaching figure of Davey, only for the 'keeper to recover in time to prevent Gregorius from turning the ball into an untended net. It was a miss for which the Football Ferns paid dearly four minutes before half-time. Against the run of play - the Kiwis enjoyed the majority of possession - the Matildas opened the scoring, Michelle Heyman getting the better of Jenny Bindon on a counter-attack to leave herself with an empty net into which she stashed the ball. The steady drizzle ensured the second half lacked the quality of the first forty-five minutes, with chances at a premium as defences were able to snuff out attacks in the trying conditions. Matildas substitutes Sam Kerr and Katrina

Gorry went closest to improving their team's advantage, before Clare Polkinghorne blocked a goal-bound attempt from Hearn in the dying minutes which would have afforded the Football Ferns a deserved equaliser. Alas for the Kiwis, their winless streak against their arch-rivals is extended by yet another match, although the chance to redress the balance is imminent, with the teams meeting again on Sunday, this time in a televised encounter from 4pm NZ time at Canberra's McKellar Park. The Centenary Cup will be at stake in this match, with these matches being played in Australia's capital city as part of Canberra's centenary celebrations - the city is 100 years old this year. The Football Ferns' ranks will be bolstered by the arrivals of Ali Riley and Kirsty Yallop, who, while Thursday's match was taking place, were en route to Canberra having played in Swedish Damallsvenskan fixtures earlier this week. Matildas:     Davey; Catley, Polkinghorne, Kennedy, Allen (booked, 87); Chapman (Kerr, 57), Uzunlar, Kellond-Knight, Butt (booked, 60) (Gorry, 73); Heyman (Gielnik, 46), Van Egmond (booked, 88) F'ball Ferns:     Bindon; Percival (Patterson, 78), Stott, Erceg, Green; Hassett, Hoyle, Hearn, Bowen (Longo, 46); Collins (White, 71), Gregorius (Wilkinson, 55) Referee:     Kate Jacewicz