AUSSIE ANGELS UNLUCKY IN NARROW LOSS TO SINGAPORE

Waking up raring to go this morning, the Aussie girls hit the court ready to do their jobs again. Singapore is a highly fancied team in the group and the Australians took shape immediately and let them know it wouldn't be an easy match. The defensive effort was tireless in supporting Leith Woods and every player worked hard to shut down every forward opportunity Singapore tried to create.

With the ball, opening moves were performed well and up front, shots came slowly and steadily from Australia but the goal frame denied them not once, but three times in 60 minutes as the girls wondered if their luck would change before time was up. Australia can consider themselves very unlucky at not tying the game up, or even taking full points in a tough and frustrating match.

The first period was a combination of a great defensive effort from Australia and some good work from the Singapore keeper to keep the Aussies out. 0-0 at the first break and the second period looked like a bit more promising, until an uncharacteristic slip up in the back half gave the Singaporeans their only easy chance of the match... 0-1.

With excellent passing and great runs forward, it looked like it would only be a matter of time before the match was levelled. It didn't take long, with Tash Glass teeing up Jemima Kanerva for her second of the tournament, and it was 1-1 into the second break. Game on!

The pattern continued in the third period, but Australia were denied by a mix of further agility from the Singaporean goalkeeper, the goal frame again and some wayward shooting. With just over 10 minutes gone, an Aussie mix up resulted in a penalty for Singapore and then the score was 1-2. Time out for Australia and all lines went back out at full pressure.

Further probes forward by Australia created more opportunities and shooting became more frequent. Alexandra Maskell and Ashleigh Bourke ran their hearts out and picked up on the passes coming out of the back half and helped keep possession in attack. Tash Glass and Tara Keogh were both unlucky not to have a goal each and Jill Roberts shot perilously close to the net as well.

Unfortunately, it was not to be for Australia with an exciting last 10 minutes not producing any luck at all and our Asian neighbours held on to their slender lead.

(0-0, 1-1, 1-0) Singapore 2 defeated Australia 1.
Jemima Kanerva 1 goal (Assisted by Natasha Glass)
Player of the Match AUSTRALIA - Jessica Laidler

Kevan Lyons - Team Manager