Clean sheet for Williams in Matildas win

Canberra United goalkeeper Lydia Williams kept a clean sheet as the Matildas wrapped up a 2-0 series victory over cross-Tasman rivals New Zealand with a convincing victory in Auckland.

Canberra United goalkeeper Lydia Williams kept a clean sheet as the Matildas wrapped up a 2-0 series victory over cross-Tasman rivals New Zealand with a convincing victory in Auckland.

Williams was rarely troubled as Australia scared a second consecutive 3-0 win over the ‘Football Ferns- thanks to goals from Heather Garriock, Lisa De Vanna and Leena Khamis.

United-s Sally Shipard made her second appearance of the tour, coming off the bench as a half-time substitute for Kim Carroll.

Here-s how the FFA reported Match Two of the tour:

Westfield Matildas 3
(Heather GARRIOCK 37, Lisa DE VANNA 49, Leena KHAMIS 84)
New Zealand 0
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Trans-Tasman Women-s International Football Series
Bill McKinlay Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 3.00pm (1.00pm AEDT)

The Westfield Matildas have completed a successful tour of New Zealand, with a second 3-0 win over the Football Ferns.

Westfield Matildas Head coach Tom Sermanni made three changes to the starting eleven squad who adjusted well to the conditions at Bill McKinlay Park.

The Football Ferns welcomed the return of US based professional Ali Riley for suspended captain Hayley Moorwood.

The Westfield Matildas opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Heather Garriock collected the rebound off the cross bar from a Collette McCallum free-kick and blasted a half volley past New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon.

Australia continued their dominance in the second half with an early goal to Lisa De Vanna in the 48th minute.

De Vanna collected a ball over the top of the Football Ferns defence from Clare Polkinghorne. After defending off the Football Ferns Abby Erceg, De Vanna composed herself to chip the advancing Bindon to make it 2-0.

New Zealand then looked to push numbers forward late in the game only to be caught out in their defensive third when Leena Khamis found herself unmarked in the box to head home a Garriock cross.

The Westfield Matildas will now head to the Gold Coast for a week training camp as they prepare for their DPR Korea matches on the 3rd and 6th of March at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane.

Westfield Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni said he is very pleased with how his whole squad is performing,

“Part of the reason for these games was to give game time to all the players.

“Kim Carroll played for the first time since her knee reconstruction in 2008 and played a solid 45 minutes,” said Sermanni.

“I also think it-s a real testament to the success of the Westfield W-League that we have such a strong pool of players to choose from – the league-s been a huge asset in many ways.

“I think this year especially we-re seeing the result of the Westfield W-League coming through as it allows for excellent preparation for the national team.

“We-ve got a bigger pool of players to choose from and from that we-ve seen the inclusion of players like Kylie Ledbrook, Aivi Luik and Servet Uzunlar who have all benefited greatly from their involvement in the Westfield W-League, who have all performed well and got themselves in the national team,” Sermanni finished.

Westfield Matildas: 18. Lydia WILLIAMS (GK), 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (10. Kylie LEDBROOK 68-), 5. Lauren COLTHORPE (Aivi LUIK 75-), 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Heather GARRIOCK, 11. Lisa DE VANNA (24. Tameka BUTT 58-), 12. Kathryn GILL (19. Leena KHAMIS 75-), 14. Collette MCCALLUM (c), 16. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 17. Kyah SIMON (22. Samantha KERR 58-), 23. Kim CARROLL (15. Sally SHIPARD 45-)

Substitutes not used not used: 1. Melissa Barbieri (GK)

Yellow cards: Lauren COLTHORPE, Lisa DE VANNA

New Zealand: 1.Jenny BINDON (GK), 2.Ria PERCIVAL (10.Annalie LONGO 46), 3.Anna GREEN (12.Betsy HASSETT 57), 4.Katie HOYLE, 5.Abby ERCEG, 7.Ali RILEY (C), 9.Amber HEARN (16.Emma KETE 77), 11.Kirsty YALLOP (17.Hannah WILKINSON 87), 14.Rosie WHITE, 15.Hannah WALL, 18.Kristy HILL

Substitutes not used: 13.Bridgette ARMSTRONG, 20.Aroon CLANSEY (GK)

Yellow cards: Ria PERCIVAL