The Football Ferns concluded their Four Nations Cup campaign in Guangzhou on January 14 with a frustrating 2-0 defeat to Finland, who scored “unspectacular” goals in the 56th and 73rd minutes to clinch a third-placed finish in a match played in a chilly three degrees - a stark contrast to the mid-twenties temperatures the squad were enjoying back home ten days ago! While host nation China took out the trophy for the first time since 2005 when downing Korea Republic 1-0 in the final game of the quadrangular tournament, the Football Ferns were coming to terms with a missed opportunity to score a win in a full international against European opposition for the first time since December 1984. Coach John Herdman was blunt in his appraisal of his charges' downfall. “Tactically, Finland won the battle. We didn't get into our rhythm and play the style of game we're able to play, and we ended up playing them at their own game. It wasn't a good performance from either team. “The Finns employ a very direct style of play, very similar to that which we used at the 2007 Women's World Cup Finals. They get the ball forward early, and battle and scrap and look for the flick-ons and lay-offs, the second phase play. “Our defence coped with this fairly well, so much so that Jenny Bindon didn't have too many saves to make. But we didn't step up to the plate in response to this, and it was frustrating for us - a bit of a watershed moment, to be honest. A lost opportunity, the sort we have to take when they present themselves, as one did tonight”. The Football Ferns had fancied their chances of scoring a welcome win going into the match, given that they had proven themselves the better team (compared with Finland) against both China and Korea Republic. But it wasn't to be. Essi Sainio's through ball presented Leena Puranen with the chance to open the scoring just shy of the hour mark, and seventeen minutes from time Susanna Lehtinen doubled Finland's advantage

upon receipt of Sanna Talonen's through ball. “The youngsters grabbed some valuable experience tonight”, said Herdman after. “We enjoyed our best spell of the game in the latter stages of the second half, when Betsy Hassett and Annalie Longo teamed up in midfield, flanked by Caitlin Campbell and Hannah Wall, with Sarah McLaughlin and Rosie White up front. “The tournament as a whole has been good preparation for the Cyprus Cup in March. The youngsters have all had time on the pitch to show us what they can do, and what they need to learn. It's certainly given us lots of food for thought, and enabled us to take a close look at the players in the international environment”. A couple of them excelled. “Hannah Wall has certainly staked a claim on this tour - she has done really well“, declared Herdman of the talented teenager. “Betsy Hassett stamped her mark on the squad, either on the right or in central midfield, while Annalie Longo made a significant impact when coming off the bench”. Once home, Herdman will name an extended thirty-strong training squad at the end of the month, from which eighteen players will be selected in February for March's Cyprus Cup tournament, the main focus of the Football Ferns' year. “It's going to be quite a busy period for the squad throughout February”, said the coach, who also confirmed that a proposed clash with Italy in Australia on February 3 wouldn't be going ahead. The one-off fixture wasn't financially feasible, especially compared with the return on investment to be had from tournament-style engagements such as the Four Nations and Cyprus Cups. Football Ferns line-up: 0-2 Finland Bindon; Percival, Hill, Erceg, Green; Hassett, Moorwood (Campbell, 60), Hoyle (Wall, 52), Yallop (Longo, 57); Hearn (McLaughlin, 73), Kete (White, 33)