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 5 - Competition Summary
Simon Kravis, the NPL roving reporter of previous NJC reports sent this report on both games
- ACT Under 14 Girls - third in Pool A
- ACT Under 15 Girls - second in Pool B
Fri 15 July Report
On the final day of the Championship, the ACT Under 15s met WA in an evenly matched contest that ended a 1-1 draw, placing ACT second in Pool B, behind Victoria. WA opened the scoring after 7 minutes when Leigha Bullock floated a free kick from the side into the top corner of the net. ACT strikers Olivia Gurney worked well together and individually to create chances in the next 5 minutes, but it was Natalie de Marco who levelled the score for the ACT with a well-read run into a defensive gap and a full-stretch tap from close range. Play moved from end to end with neither side containing the other for long. Sophia Stewart delivered a good strike for WA from a very tight position that went just wide and a few minutes later Leanne Pompeani did the same for the ACT.
The ACT opened the second half well, with Olivia Gurney and Thalia Backhouse rattling the WA goalposts from quick counter-attacks and poorly cleared corners, whilst at the other end a cross from Jessica Darmago was sent just wide by Laitysha Wyatt, who a few minutes later drew a good save from ACT keeper Phoebe Worth. WA continued to threaten from set pieces, but as fatigue set in, both sides offered the other long periods of possession, but neither were able to capitalise on the opportunities.
The Under 14s played NSW Country from Pool B as their final match on Friday afternoon, in a game which did not affect the ladder positions of either team. ACT made a tentative start on a damp pitch, and NSW Country were dominant from the kickoff, winning almost all of the contested balls and placing four shots on goal in the first 15 minutes, with the ball seldom in their half. As in the NSW Metropolitan game, ACT seemed most likely to spend the game in pursuit of equalisers, but the situation changed abruptly at 25 minutes when Hayley Armstrong tapped in a cross from Julia de Angelis in the first ACT shot on goal. Five minutes later Julia de Angelis extended the lead to 2-0 after a free kick from Brigette Calabria was poorly cleared, and the ball remained in the NSW Country half until the half-time whistle.
In the second half NSW Country pushed hard on the right and the ACT defence were not able to move the ball foward. Amanda Stevenson was finally successful in driving the ball home for NSW Country from a goalmouth melee after 10 minutes to take the score to 2-1. ACT keeper Georgina Worth saved well over the next 15 minutes as wet and cold conditions reminiscent of the Kanga Cup set in and all but the hardiest spectators retreated to the covered area. NSW Country had two excellent chances when Alexandra Scobie outpaced the ACT defence but she sprayed her shots wide. The game slowed as players tired and came to a scrappy end without a change to the scoreline of 2-1 to the ACT.
Competition Summary
The ACT Under 14 and Under 15 teams performed well overall, with the Under 14s coming third in Pool A, behind winners NSW Metropolitan and Victoria in second place, and the Under 15s coming second in Pool B, behind Victoria. Under 15 Pool A winners were also NSW Metropolitan. The first team in Pool B each year moves up to Pool A and the last team in Pool A moves down to Pool B. As the ACT Under 14s were not last in their pool, they will compete in the Under 15 Pool A against NSW Metropolitan, Victoria, Northern NSW and Queensland. The Under 14 Pool A for next year will most likely comprise NSW Metropolitan, Victoria, South Australia, Northern NSW and Queensland next year, based on the results of the National Youth Championship for Girls Under 13 held in Canberra in April.
In the Under 14 age group, goalkeeper Georgina Worth, striker Caitlin Cantrill and utility player Emma Bestek were selected for the All Stars team. In the Under 15 age group, strikers Thalia Backhouse and Olivia Gurney were selected. The All Stars teams were picked by a technical assessment team led by NSW Institute of Sport coach Alen Stajic. The All Stars teams played the Pool A winners in each age group in a 40 minute exhibition match at the end of the tournament.
Under 14s coach Pat Mills commented: "The team played exceptionally well, with pace and passion. The standout game was against NSW Metropolitan, where we though we might scrape a draw, but we nearly got a win. I'd love to have been able to prepare for the championships for 12 months as they do in NSW." Under 15s coach Michelle Aurousseau said: "We exceeded expectations with the girls we had. They all stepped up to the mark and played really well as a team. Only the game against Victoria didn't go their way."
Competition Overview
The ACT teams’ performance maintained their age group rankings from last year’s tournament and whilst NSW Metropolitan won both age groups, this year’s Under 14 team were narrow winners in a very even competition, with winning margins of a single goal in most games. With draws against the ACT and Pool B winners Queensland, they are no longer as far ahead of their competitors as they once were, although they are very well-endowed with talent, most notably through midfielder Alycia Macqueen, who was named Player of the Tournament. Victoria improved its ranking from fourth to second place and their 5-0 loss to NSW Metropolitan was mainly through a single defensive flaw in the first half. Midfielder Beatrice Goad and striker Marianna Anthony were always threatening. In the second half Victoria did not concede any more goals and were dominant for much of the period. Queensland will be returning to Pool A with two very fast strikers (Talitha Doro and Sunny Franco) and a strong defence. The ACT Under 14 team owes much of its success to the general athleticism of the team, which allowed it to break quickly, exploit defensive errors and disrupt attacks. The Under 14s also had very solid goalkeeping and an industrious midfield. Northern NSW remain the most intimidating team in the age group, through their size and physicality. Their powerful forwards Tulia Palozzi and Kally Ann Lewis can deliver winning strikes from anywhere in the forward third, but they did not always receive the service to make the best of their talents.
In the Under 15 Pool B, the pace of the ACT strikers Thalia Backhouse and Olivia Gurney delivered most of the goals, but often their support was too far behind and whilst generally solid, the defence was vulnerable to set-piece attacks.
The schedule of five 80-minute games over the week for each team gave good value in terms of game time, but took a toll on the players, with most teams looking in need of a rest on Friday. The pitches and facilities were very good, and the officiating was generally firm, with little rough play. The loudest cheer of the competition was for Northern Territory Under 15s when they scored their first goal. The closing ceremony was held in cold and wet conditions, with most of the non-winning teams leaving after their members had received individual recognition. It was also marked by the winning NSW Metropolitan teams helping themselves to the two trophies for photographs rather than waiting to have them presented. This detracted from the atmosphere of the occasion.