New Zealand’s Young Ferns kicked off their three-match tour of Australia in flying fashion on July 11, thanks to a 2-0 win over a very impressive New South Wales Institute of Sport combination at Valentine Sports Park. Second half strikes from twenty-five yards by Evie Millynn and Rebecca Burrows proved the difference on the scoreboard, after the Young Ferns had spent the first fifteen minutes of the match coming to terms with the speed and pressure of their opponents. "When they came in at half-time, there was lots of ‘They’re so quick!’ statements from the girls", said an understandably delighted coach, Dave Edmondson, after the match. "But we changed the shape of our midfield trio in the second half to nullify the principle source of the problem, and things developed from that". Those ‘things’ included Millynn’s strike in the 53rd minute. "Olivia Chance took it to them down the left in the first half, and it was her pressure which caused the mistake from which Evie belted a twenty-five yarder into the top right-hand corner of the goal - a great strike!", declared the coach. "The team visibly grew in confidence once they’d scored, and got another one seven minutes later, very similar in execution. Some neat inter-play between Olivia and Hannah Wong resulted in Hannah playing a nicely weighted pass into the stride of Becky, whose twenty-five yarder dipped over the back-pedalling goalkeeper and just under the bar". The Young Ferns proceeded to dominate things after this, but a combination of NSWIS substitutions, as they looked to get back into the match, and a few silly errors - "We tried to play a little too quickly at times, which the girls will learn from" - gave the hosts a few half-chances late on, including one from a quickly taken free-kick which brought about a fine top-corner

Olivia Chance - involved in both goals Jess Reddaway - supersaver

save from second half goalkeeper Jess Reddaway. "Both ‘keepers did well, and made some good saves. Becky did very well in midfield alongside Kate Loye, who was her usual self, especially once we got into the game. And Tessa McPherson was a stand-out in defence - she really dominated, and was quite vocal, which was good to see, or, I should say, hear", said Edmondson, as a very buoyant squad celebrated their success in the background. The squad is based at the Valentine Sports Park campus throughout their week-long stay in Sydney. "It’s in the throws of being replaced", says the Young Ferns’ mentor. "You can see that nothing’s been done to it for a year or two, so it’s pretty basic. But it suits our needs, and keeps the girls’ feet on the ground - they can enjoy the trappings of the Hiltons and Ritzes of this world when we get to Trinidad & Tobago!" There are no injury concerns among the Katie Bowen-captained squad, although Olivia Chance was withdrawn half-way through the second half as a precaution, a result of a knock she received while playing last weekend. The Young Ferns’ preparations for the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Finals continue on Tuesday evening, with another clash against the NSWIS combination at Valentine Sports Park. The tour concludes on Thursday evening with a clash against the 2009 W-League champions, Sydney FC. Both games kick off at 9pm. Details: NSW Institute of Sport 0, Young Ferns 2 (E. Millynn (53), R. Burrows (60))  HT 0-0 Line-up:     Chloe-May Geurts (Jess Reddaway, 46); Katie Bowen, Sivitha Boyce, Tessa McPherson, Rachel Head; Rebecca Burrows, Evie Millynn, Kate Loye; Holly Patterson, Hannah Wong, Olivia Chance (Ashleigh Ward, 65)