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NZ Universities, 14/7/05
Scratchy Elite Squad Overcome Plucky Students
by Jeremy Ruane
A scratchily performed New Zealand Women's Senior Elite International Development Squad gave themselves a welcome confidence boost by scoring
some goals as they overcame a plucky NZ Universities squad 3-1 on a challenging North Harbour Stadium outer oval playing surface on July 14.
Down to the bare minimum in terms of numbers available, due primarily to injuries, the Elite Squad's first half display was generally poor at best, and downright awful at worst, as their recent dearth of training and match-play contributed significantly to their decidedly sluggish showing in the first forty-five minutes.
How their form contrasted with that of the Universities squad during the same period of play, as they pressed their rivals at every turn while playing their fourth match in as many days. And that's not counting training sessions in between times!
But for a penchant for over-hitting the through balls which strikers Emma Humphries and Jamie Hackett vainly pursued, the lively Universities team matched - and often bettered, Rebecca O'Neill particularly - their
opponents stride for stride throughout the first half, one which, while lively and fiercely competitive, was largely bereft of football of truly genuine quality, a situation which was to change in the second spell.
It was the Elite Squad who put together the first move of note, in the fourth minute. Kirsty Yallop, Dana Humby, Michele Keinzley and Rebecca Sowden exchanged first-time passes on the right, with the last-mentioned releasing the third-mentioned down the right.
Keinzley got the better of the covering Jane Archer but fired in a cross towards the far post, beyond makeshift striker Hannah Bromley, who was all at sea in her attacking role, and swapped positions after just twenty minutes with Maia Jackman, who, as Tess Murphy can well testify, proved far more of a handful in the front-running role than her young team-mate.
NZU finally got the mix right passing-wise in the 33rd minute, when O'Neill outmuscled Yallop in midfield and linked with Hackett to send Humphries haring through with just Pam Yates to beat.
The American-based striker pulled her shot wide of the mark on this occasion, and shot at Yates seconds later, after taking advantage of a defensive mix-up on half-way between Bromley and the generally impressive Melissa Ray.
The latter's central defensive display was one of the plus-points of the night from the Elite Squad's viewpoint. Indeed, Ray's pursuit of Humphries on this occasion saw her get enough of a challenge in on the striker to contribute towards her failure to break the deadlock eleven minutes before the break.
After O'Neill had blocked a shot from Keinzley, who had been picked out by Marlies Oostdam's corner, and before Chelsea Aim had grabbed a Rebecca Sowden cross intended for the head of Jackman, who was poised to pounce just as the `keeper intervened, NZU came desperately close to opening the scoring, three minutes before half-time.
Again, it was Humphries who was the scourge of the Elite Squad's rearguard, racing clear on the right before lashing a shot on the run over the advancing figure of Yates. The `keeper looked round to see the crossbar come to her rescue, the ball bouncing clear to ensure the first half ended as it had begun, scoreless, a statistic which the Universities' squad's all-round efforts didn't deserve.
The second half initially began in the same vein, with Bromley getting across to thwart O'Neill just seconds after the resumption, the midfielder having linked with Leanne Tiffen down the right.
But the Elite Squad's response to a few choice half-time words from coach Mick Leonard, coupled with the expectations they have of themselves and the
realisation that their first half display was far below the standards expected of them, was to open the scoring three minutes into the half.
Under pressure from Hayley Moorwood, Murphy's hurried clearance was sliced to Oostdam near the left touchline. From there, the scorer of the Elite Squad's goal in the week's first encounter between these sides pinged over a gem of a cross beyond the far post.
Arriving on cue was Yallop, who controlled the ball neatly before driving it unerringly into the far corner of the net, much to the relief of herself and her team-mates, and the disappointment of Aim and company, who, given their demanding schedule this week, were bound to tire before the end of this encounter.
The goal had the desired effect on the Elite Squad, giving their play a zing and zest which were conspicuous by their absence in the first spell. Urged on by the fiercely competitive Sarah Gibbs, they
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quickly gained the ascendancy, with the full-back herself instigating their next move of note.
The 55th minute raid also featured Jackman, Oostdam and Keinzley as the passess flowed, the last-mentioned's through ball seeing Jackman go down in
the penalty area under the challenge of Brooke Rangi. Referee Wayne Stapley had a good look, but opted to let the players get on with the job on this occasion.
After Humphries had whipped in a gem of a corner which just needed a touch on the far post to bring about a 57th minute equaliser, the Elite Squad came close to doubling their advantage from Yates' resulting goal kick.
Oostdam sent Keinzley down the left, the striker rounding substitute Nancy Campbell en route to the by-line, from where she fired in a cross to the near post which Jackman only just failed to make contact with.
Four minutes later came the goal which effectively settled the contest, and fittingly, Gibbs was at its heart. The feisty full-back powered clean through Emily McColl's challenge as she played a one-two with Keinzley, Gibbs then playing the ball on to Moorwood before continuing her supporting run down the left.
The captain opted not to use it, instead turning and clipping the ball across the penalty area to the far post, having spotted Yallop's well-timed run from deep. What happened next was a virtual mirror image of what had happened fourteen minutes before - one touch to control, another to shoot, a 2-0 lead the outcome.
After Oostdam had volleyed across the face of goal following the rare sight of Dana Humby joining the attack, the Elite Squad made the game safe in the 68th minute with their third goal of the night.
Jackman was sent tumbling by Campbell, a crime which Sowden punished mercilessly by drilling a beastly free-kick low around the defensive wall at pace. There was too much pace, power and swerve on the shot for Aim to cope with, and the `keeper was a picture of despair as she found herself beaten for the third time in the match.
Universities, knowing full well their overall performance didn't merit this scoreline, looked to fight firepower with firepower inside the last twenty minutes, as the frequent introductions of fresh pairs of legs gave them added impetus in their quest to get back into the match.
A delightful right wing raid in the 71st minute culminated in O'Neill releasing McColl down the right, from where she cut inside before crossing to the near post, where Humphries stooped but headed just wide.
Seconds later, Humphries was racing in again, this time down the left to exploit the spaces vacated by Ray and Humby, who had been caught out of position after an attack broke down. “Giggles”, as Humphries is nicknamed, scythed inside before shooting over the bar as Bromley closed in cover.
After Oostdam had tried a speculative long-range left-flank effort which left Aim beaten all ends up but flew a yard at most past the far post, Rebecca Tegg, who had seen Yates clear the ball off her toes moments
earlier, sent McColl down the right fourteen minutes from time. The midfielder cut inside and let fly, but shot high and wide of the target.
Yallop did likewise five minutes later, as she looked to complete her hat-trick on receipt of a Keinzley cross, while a minute later, Humphries sent Tegg through with a gem of a pass to reel in. The striker duly did so,
despite the pressure being applied by Ray and Humby, and shot past the advancing Yates, who appeared to get a touch on the ball to divert it wide of the mark.
Referee Stapley thought otherwise, but did signal a decision in NZU's favour three minutes from time - a consolation goal. Humphries sent Tegg chasing after a ball played down the line, which the substitute latched
onto before curling a clever cross-shot goalwards.
Yates hesitated, uncertain if the ball was destined to enter the six-yard box or not. Her defenders, too, didn't command their area with any authority, much to the delight of Maree Hannay, who stole in to steer home the final goal of the game, thus concluding NZ Universities' tough game-a-day playing schedule on something of a positive note, even though they found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline come the final whistle.
Elite Squad: Yates; Humby, Jackman, Ray, Gibbs; Yallop, Moorwood, Sowden, Oostdam (Hogg, 81); Keinzley, Bromley (Rennie, 73)
Universities: Aim; Lewis, Murphy (Campbell, 56), Rangi, Archer; McColl (O'Keefe, 84), O'Neill, Bourke, Tiffen (Hannay, 81); Humphries, Hackett (Tegg, 58)
Referee: Wayne Stapley
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