Footballsouth's national women's youth league team had its first match of the 2011 season against a very physical, experienced Central side yesterday and eventually lost 4-2 in Palmerston North.
"The team was always going to be under the cosh, with a 5am start to get to the venue in time for a noon kick-off.
And we struggled in the first 16 minutes conceding three early goals," assistant coach Steve Brook said.
Emma Boyack scored in the fourth minute, shot home a penalty, then Tiffany Kawana-Waugh added a third for Central.
However, a well taken goal by striker Mary Fraser narrowed the gap and Footballsouth went in at the break 3-1 down and confident of climbing back in the second half.
In the second half, Footballsouth pressure paid off and it gained a penalty, which had to be retaken due to the goalkeeper moving off her line.
Una Madden drilled in the retake to claw the scoreline back to 3-2.
Despite spirited play in which Caitlyn Bloxham and Alice Foote excelled, Central's experience showed and it eventually got the cushion it needed when Jane Barnett scored the final goal after 82 minutes to produce a final 4-2 scoreline.
Footballsouth coach Zippy Rzepcky and the central coaching staff praised their team's effort and, among many gritty performances, chose captain Chelsea Martin as the player of the day.
Next week, in Dunedin, Footballsouth hosts Mainland which this weekend beat defending champion Capital Football.
