Two parents (Eddie Senatore and Simon Kravis) of players in both teams have kindly forwarded the NPL progress reports from Day 3 of competition.
Day 3 Results
For the ACT it was all hard work:
ACT Under 14s - Draw 3-3 (ACT v Northern NSW)
ACT Under 15 - Loss 3-1 (ACT v Queensland) - this was a cross over game with a very strong Group A team. ACT reported to have played well.
Simon Kravis, the NPL roving reporter of previous NJC reports sent this report on both games
Westfield Football Federation Australia National Youth Championship for Girls BCU Stadium, Coffs Harbour
Wed 13 July 2011
Both the ACT Under 15 and Under 14 teams played Victoria this morning. The Under 15 game was disappointing for the ACT team. Despite having the better of the play for much of the first half, they were unable to keep possession or mount coherent attacks for the remainder of the match and went down 4-0.
The Under 15 game started on a dew-soaked pitch under cloudy skies, and players from both sides found it hard to keep their footing. ACT started strongly, with Olivia Gurney pressing hard from the outset, with a shot from her going just wide after a few minutes, but it was Victoria who opened the scoring against the run of play after 20 minutes, when Candela Ferrerya Bas struck from a well-delivered corner.ACT responded with long-range shots from Thalia Backhouse and Olivia Gurney, but without any follow-up to collect spills or rebounds. Victoria extended their lead to 2-0 after 30 minutes when a cross found the feet of Claudis Dimosi in front of goal for a simple tap-in that seemed to surprise even her. Just before the break, Thalia Backhouse netted for the ACT from what looked like a goalkeeper spill, but the goal was disallowed.
Victoria asserted themselves more after the break, with Candela Ferrerya Bas directing a header just wide from a free kick, and Natalie Laboska looping a free kick over the defensive wall and past ACT goalkeeper Rebecca Luttrell to take the score to 3-0.ACT pushed forward sporadically but were unable to retain possession against an increasingly confident Victorian midfield, despite a nimble performance from ACT's Monica Cerro. Victoria added a further goal from Elaina Vatcky just before the end to take them to solid 4-0 victory.
The Under 14 game was very close-run, with both teams moving the ball around well, but the Victorian defence proved more solid to give them the game 3-2, with the deciding goal only coming in the last minutes.
ACT found themselves under immediate pressure from the start, with three shots on goal in the first 10 minutes, which were well handled by goalkeeper Jessica Giovinazzo. The ACT then rallied and their tenacious forward line of Maddie Whittall, Samantha Roff and Caitlin Cantrell harried the Victorian defence and netted the ball after 15 minutes, but the goal was narrowly ruled offside. Further chances from Hiwot Johnstone and Caitlin Cantrell followed, and with the ACT defence largely successful in closing down Victorian strikers Marianna Anthony and Beatrice Goad, the ACT seemed well placed to take the lead in the second half.
However, this did not transpire. ACT narrowly escaped conceding two goals in the first 5 minutes through defensive errors and then conceded a penalty after 15 minutes which was calmly converted by Jessica Pitts. ACT equalised a few minutes later when Hayley Armstrong drove home a cross from Bridget Calabria, but almost went behind again when a loose ball trickled outside rather than inside the ACT goal. A poor Victorian goal clearance was pounced on and slotted home by Caitlin Cantrell to give the ACT a 2-1 lead, but ACT were again saved from losing this lead by defender Hollie Massey sweeping the ball off the goal line after the goalkeeper was beaten. The relief for the ACT was short-lived, as Jessica Pitts struck again from a goalmouth melee to bring the score to 2-2 with 7 minutes remaining. With the tension drawing shouts of encouragement and advice from all around the pitch, Victorian substitute Lani Murdoch struck 2 minutes later to give Victoria a 3-2 lead which they maintained despite valiant efforts from the ACT.
Tomorrow, the Under 14s face up to NSW Metropolitan, who currently top the Under 14 Group A ladder, while the Under 15s meet Tasmania.
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