The Football Ferns were desperately unlucky to draw 1-1 with Holland in inclement conditions at the Cyprus Cup on 26 February, the woodwork all that stood between the Kiwi team and another famous win against top-twenty-ranked opposition. Incessant rain during the preceding twenty-four hours made the Ammochostos Stadium rather challenging for both teams, and like the accompanying strong wind, it didn’t let up during the game - the at times almost horizontal rain made it difficult simply to see, let alone play football! And that’s before mention is made of the puddles on the pitch!! But play the Football Ferns did, making light of the conditions to give the Dutch a right going-over for the second year running - the European team, to a woman full-time professionals, were fortunate to emerge from this game with a point to their name. "It was a disappointing result, to be honest", reflected coach John Herdman afterwards. "We had more of the play, and chances to go on and win. But it was a gutsy, strong, powerful performance from New Zealand - I’m really proud of them. Different gear!" The Football Ferns opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the eighteenth minute, courtesy Amber Hearn, after Dutch defender Daphne Koster had deliberately handled a goalbound shot, only to be booked for an offence which demands a coloured card of a different hue be shown. It took the Dutch eight minutes to muster an equaliser, one of their few attacks resulting in a corner. Manon Melis, who was otherwise marked out of the game by Ali Riley, took full advantage of the Football Ferns’ disorganisation during the second phase of play following the set-piece to unleash what Herdman described as "a great strike into the top corner. "Melis terrorises teams, and has scored in nearly every game for Holland. She only did so today after a defensive lapse following a corner. Otherwise, Ali Riley tactically nullified her - she did a great job". And came desperately close to scoring before half-time, although she wasn’t alone in that regard, as the coach expounds. "Rosie White was really impressive today, and came so close to scoring her first goal at this level. A smart turn took her clear of two defenders, and she let fly, only to see the ball cannon back off the inside of the far post - it was a world class effort, real Wayne Rooney-esque! "Then Riley went on one of her jinking runs down the left before cutting inside and curling one. It looked like it was going in, but hit the crossbar and came back into play". The second half saw the energetic frontrunners, White and Hearn, getting shots aplenty in on goal, along with the midfielders, particularly Kirsty Yallop - "she had a really strong second half", declared a pleased Herdman. But the goal just wouldn’t come, and a point - rather than the three their efforts merited - was all the Football Ferns had to show for, once again, outplaying the Euro 2009 semi-finalists. "Given the conditions, it was a collective effort today", says Herdman, but aside from those already mentioned, there were a couple of other performances which caught the coach’s eye despite the driving rain. "Rebecca Smith was solid again, and, too, Jenny Bindon - her distribution in what was awful conditions was top class". With only a couple of minor fitness concerns to address over the weekend, attention now turns to the Football Ferns’ final round-robin fixture, against Scotland from 1am on Tuesday, NZ time, at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca. "That game’s all about goal difference for us", says Herdman. "We’re in a position I’d have taken going into this tournament, where we need to score a couple of goals against Scotland to secure a top-four finish again, although our aims are higher than that. We’ve got to win and win comfortably, which will put the pressure on Holland and Italy". Those teams clash in the final fixture of the group, and will know the Football Ferns’ result before they commence a match in Nicosia which, in an ideal world from New Zealand’s viewpoint, will end in a draw. A place in the final is the reward for the group winners, and the Football Ferns are potentially a victory away from finishing in top spot.

Ali Riley - superb marking job Rosie White - really impressive Jenny Bindon - top class distribution Rebecca Smith - rock solid New Zealand:     Bindon; Wall, Smith, Erceg, Riley; Moorwood, Hassett, Hoyle (booked, 10), Yallop; Hearn (Wilkinson, 88), White Holland:     Geurts; Bito, Homecoming (van den Heiligenberg, 71), Hoogendijk, Koster (booked, 18); Kiesel-Griffioen, Meulen, Smit, Dekker; Melis, Pieete (Oudejans, 70)