The NTC girls who have played in the Junior Boys U15 A Division this season, competed in the inaugural NTC Challenge last week in Canberra. 

 

With Grace Henry sidelined through injury and Jess Waterhouse ineligible due to attending the U15 State Tournament, Dani Di Bartolo and Alicia Nickolas were added to the squad after impressive performances for Adelaide City during the season.

 

The opening day saw SA face a combined team from ACT, Tasmania and NT, which included Canberra United W League star Georgia Yeoman-Dale as their captain. 

 

The game started with SA dominating possession and playing their short passing game and SA took the lead through a Ruth Wallace pile driver from 25 yards.

 

But, SA were unable to hold on to the lead and conceded an equaliser just before half time after softly coughing up possession.

 

The second half was more even with the combined side looking more dangerous, but SA were defending solidly and looking confident in possession. 

 

SA were unfortunate not to win the game in the dying moments when after a great combination on the right, Emma Checker saw her powerful shot just go over the bar.

 

The second game against WA saw SA totally dominate and control possession without really looking threatening. 

 

Moving Issy Hodgson to the number 9 role changed that and within minutes of the change she opened the scoring for SA. 

 

The second half continued in the same vain with SA dominant in possession and creating more chances but a long range effort from WA found the corner of the net to give WA a slightly fortuitous draw. 

 

Again SA and Emma Checker were unfortunate late in the game when Emma saw her 30-yard drive beat the keeper but bounce down off the underside of the crossbar.

 

After two ‘almost’ performances SA really impressed on the third day against Queensland. 

 

A totally dominant performance despite QAS fielding a number of W League players and Australian representatives, including the very impressive Hayley Raso, saw SA run out 2-0 victors. 

 

Sarah Willacy prevented Raso from opening the scoring with a great 1v1 save in the first half but after that it was SA who controlled the game. 

 

Unlike in the first two games, against QAS, SA were able to add the all important second goal, with Roxeanne Dodd adding to Emma Checker’s opener.

 

NSWIS were the opponents on the fourth day, which also saw us playing on very wet pitches, making it difficult for players to keep their feet or play a short passing game. 

 

The game turned in the third minute when after a defensive error on the right, a recovering Emma Checker rather unfortunately collided with an NSWIS player in the box, leading not only to a penalty but a shock red card. 

 

A defensive reorganisation saw Ruth Wallace slot back into the back four, only for her to leave the field with an injury shortly after. 

 

NSWIS, the dominant side of the tournament, with players of the quality of Caitlin Foord, Alana Kennedy and Teigen Allen were ruthless in their exploitation of the weakened SA side and ran out comfortable winners.

 

The final day saw Victoria as the opponents, the only side to have stayed within 5 goals of NSWIS and we were faced with the prospect of not having Emma and Ruth able to play and Monique Iannella, Roxeanne Dodd and Amelia Pacillo also struggling with sickness or injury. 

 

A patched up side took to their task with enthusiasm though and worked hard to press Victoria as high as possible, which worked well and led to a number of half chances for SA but we failed to capitalise. 

 

Rhiannan Mullan had to leave the field with a back injury before half time, reducing further our attacking options. 

 

Vic started to grow in confidence, having weathered the early SA storm and took the lead after a weaving run from midfield and a cool finish.

 

A second goal soon followed, making it 0-2 at half time. The second half started brightly for SA again, with their high pressure game almost paying dividends but again we failed to find the back of the net. 

 

As the game ran down, VIC exploited some tiredness in the SA ranks and added a further 2 goals to run out 4-0 winners.

 

Overall the week served as a great test for the SA girls and provided them with a real benchmark of what it takes to be an International player. 

 

Whilst we are making progress and players like Emma Checker, Grace Henry, Ebony Philcox and Jess Waterhouse are being recognised as potential National team players we still have a way to go before we can match the NSWIS and VIC teams, but that will come with hard work and dedication on behalf of the players and coaches alike. 

 

The standard of football at the tournament was a pleasure to watch, with all teams looking to play a passing game when in possession and showing a much more structured approach to their out of possession play, be that high pressure from NSWIS and SA or a deeper line of pressure from VIC, QAS and the combined team.