The squad of U-18 players from the three northernmost federations – Northern Football, Auckland Football and Waikato Bay of Plenty, earned their final berth courtesy of a hat-trick from age-group international Martine Puketapu and goals from Tayla Christensen and Paige Satchell.
From the kickoff on the artificial turf, the New Zealand squad went straight on the attack down the left flank and after some neat combination work; Christensen danced into the penalty area and fired home beyond Capital goalkeeper Cushla Lichtwark.
That hot start boosted the second-placed side from the round-robin phase of the competition and they had the better of the next 25 minutes, creating a host of chances and threatening moments which went unfinished.
Capital began to grow into the game as the half progressed and several chances of their own came and went before livewire attacker Michaela Robertson was cut down in the penalty area in the 39th minute. Julia Baldwin dispatched the resulting spot kick to provide a 1-1 score line at the break.
Buoyed by their end to the half, the visitors came out strongly to open the second period and, with Robertson again instrumental, they regularly threatened the New Zealand side until Puketapu struck the first of three goals in a three-minute spell on the hour which effectively ended the contest.
Puketapu slammed home in the aftermath of a corner for 2-1, Satchell followed up a minute later for 3-1 and Puketapu made it 4-1 less than two minutes after that; stealing Lichtwark’s goal kick and slotting home.
The New Zealand U-17 captain earlier this year, Puketapu then completed her hat-trick with 10 minutes remaining to provide the final score.
New Zealand Development assistant coach Owain Prosser said Sunday’s game was a tough contest despite the scoreboard margin between the sides.
“Today was a really tough game and a really close game,” Prosser said.
“Both teams tried to play in the right way, playing decent possession-based football.”
“The game started well for us, we were quick out of the blocks and we scored after 58 seconds and that was an ideal start for the girls and that calmed them down.”
“There was a crazy couple of minutes where we managed to score three goals which weighed the game in our favour and the girls managed the game really well after that.”
Prosser said the team once again lived up to their attacking mantra of being brave and trying to be incisive in possession.
“I think the brilliant thing about the group of players that we’ve got is they are willing to try.
“There are a few things that they’ve tried today that have managed to come off. Whether they resulted in goals or chances that were saved or missed, the fact is that they are trying to be inventive and trying to be creative.”
Capital coach Natalie Lawrence said her side’s bold challenge came unstuck with the horror spell early in the second period.
“We got in at 1-1 at halftime and we were feeling confident after getting that goal just before halftime,” Lawrence said.
“We came out really strong in the second half and had three really good chances and then there was a five minute spell and that did cost us the season.
“But that will come with experience. We’ve got a team of generally 15 to 17-year-olds and we couldn’t be happier with what they’ve done this season.”
The New Zealand Development squad will meet defending champions Mainland Pride in the final of the ASB Women’s League on Sunday 7 December at 1pm at ASB Football Park in Christchurch.
ASB Women’s League 2014
Preliminary Final
Sunday 30 November
NZ Development 5-1 Capital Football (half: 1-1)
NZ: Tayla Christensen 1’, Martine Puketapu 57’, 60’, 80’, Paige Satchell 58’
CF: Julia Baldwin 39’ (pen)
NZ Development: 12. Kelsey Dzaferic (GK – 1. Abigail Rober 79’), 2. Claudia Bunge, 4. Elizabeth Anton, 8. Daisy Cleverley, 9. Martine Puketapu, 11. Emily Oosterhof, 16. Paige Satchell (10. Jade Parris 75’), 17. Nicole Mettam, 18. Isabella Richards, 19. Tayla Chirstensen, 20. Jacqui Hand
Coach: Owain Prosser
Capital Football: 1. Cushla Lichtwark (GK), 3. Tessa McPherson, 5. Hope Gilchrist, 8. Jayme Lee Hunter, 9. Michaela Robertson, 10. Kennedy Bryant (7. Kelsi Rutene 67’), 11. Emily Morison, 12. Emma Main (16. Renee Bacon 67’), 13. Ella Wilson (18. Ellen Fibbes 45’), 14. Francesca Grange, 22. Julia Baldwin
Substitutes not used: 4. Katie Barrott, 23. Ronisa Lipi (GK)
Coach: Natalie Lawrence
ASB Women’s League Final 2014
Mainland Pride v NZ Development
Sunday 7 December, 1pm
ASB Football Park, Christchurch
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

Share