After finishing top of the round-robin phase of the competition with six wins from their seven matches, Mainland earned a week off last week – which the team used to continue their preparations by playing an intra-squad match.
One of those six competition victories was a 2-1 opening round result over the New Zealand Development side at Sunday’s venue with the home side grabbing a last-gasp stoppage time winner.
Mainland Pride coach Gareth Turnbull says the nature of that first round encounter reinforces for everyone how tight Sunday’s match will be.
“I said to Aaron [McFarland] afterwards, that could easily be a final let alone a first round match-up,” Turnbull said.
“Both teams were extremely competitive and tight in midfield and didn’t allow the other team to impose their style.
“In saying that it was the first game of the season and both teams have developed immensely I believe since that round.
“There are obviously very good players and internationals on both sides of the pitch and two really good coaching staffs who have prepared these two groups over the last three months of the national league.”
Turnbull says coming into Sunday’s clash with the title of defending champions has provided a boost for the team in practical terms ahead of what he expects to be a game which showcases the attacking talent on both teams.
“I think being successful in last year’s final is a help. We can draw upon those experiences and certainly what we did last year in the week leading up to the game, we’ve tried to mirror as much of that as we can.”
“It should be a tight game through most parts of the field and both teams are attack-laden. There are some really exciting players out on the pitch who are thirsty for goals and opportunities. The team who converts the higher percentage of those opportunities will have the best chance to win.”
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Development squad earned their place in Sunday’s final courtesy of last weekend’s 5-1 Preliminary Final win over Capital Football in Auckland.
The northern-based New Zealand youngsters have had a strong campaign – unbeaten since that opening round loss in Christchurch – and assistant coach Owain Prosser says last week’s effort followed the trend the group have developed as the competition has moved along.
“Last week’s game was a good game,” Prosser said, “the girls played well. I think they continued to do what they’ve done all season which is try and be creative and try and be inventive, and that came off on a number of occasions last
weekend which was great.
“The girls are on a good run, not only in terms of the results but also the performances they are having so they go into it full of confidence.”
In similar vein to Turnbull, Prosser highlighted the first round match-up of the sides and says his group are looking forward to measuring themselves against the same opposition in their final outing.
“The first game was close and it will be a really good opportunity for our players to see how far they’ve developed across the course of the season. Playing the first game and now playing them in the last game it is an opportunity for a bit of a comparison.”
Prosser said despite reaching the competition showcase match, the group will stick firmly to what has got them there; concentrating on their own objectives.
“This season we’ve been very focussed on ourselves and if we get ourselves playing right and correct, then we’ll do a decent job in the game and have a decent performance.
“We want them to be able to be creative when necessary but also be composed and calm in possession of the ball.
“Possession-based football is what we’re after but not just possession for possession’s sake. We want it to have an outcome at the right times as well.”
To watch Sunday’s match liveclick here
ASB Women’s League 2014 – Final
Mainland Pride v NZ Development Squad
Sunday 7 December, 1pm
ASB Football Park, Christchurch
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley
Assistant referees: Sarah Walker, Nadia Browning
Fourth official: Regan Preston
Mainland Pride
Form: L-W-W-W-W
Squad: 1. Victoria Esson (GK), 2. Ashleigh Ward, 4. Emma Proctor, 5. Chloe Jones, 6. Meikayla Moore, 7. Monique Barker, 8. Whitney Hepburn, 11. Belinda van Noorden, 12. Lauren Dabner, 13. Aimee Phillips, 14. Johanna Hamblett, 16. Annalie Longo, 18. Rebecca Gillett, 20. Megan Shea, 22. Briar Guyan, 24. Mikayla Wieblitz
Coach: Gareth Turnbull
NZ Development
Form: W-D-W-W-W
Squad: 1. Emily Derlin (GK), 2. Claudia Bunge, 4. Elizabeth Anton, 6. Isabella Coombes, 8. Daisy Cleverley, 9. Martine Puketapu, 10. Jade Parris, 11. Emily Oosterhof, 12. Kelsey Dzaferic (GK), 14. Jasmine Pereira, 16. Paige Satchell, 17. Nicole Mettam, 18. Isabella Richards, 19. Tayla Christensen, 20. Jacqueline Hand, 21. Sophie Stewart-Hobbs
Coach: Aaron McFarland
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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