National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10305 (Terracing: 7729, Seating: 2370, VIP seats: 206) Alberto Blackham started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. U21 Australia's Paz Soekirno got a good chance for a goal in the 4th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The supporters of U21 England booed when U21 Australia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Norman Minton didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Hugh Barton in the 7th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Navarro Owens saved U21 Australia from getting behind. After 12 played minutes U21 Australia got a freekick which was hit by Norman Minton. Andre Jackson might have been able to make a better finish in the 14th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Navarro Owens. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Andre Jackson ran back to his position shaking his head. After having played for 15 minutes, Hugh Barton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 England's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hugh Barton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The supporters of U21 England booed when U21 Australia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 19 match minutes in a wonderful position. Norman Minton didn't get a good kick on the ball. U21 Australia's Navarro Owens played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hugh Barton in the 27th minute of play. 34 minutes into the match, U21 England's goalkeeper Lewis Bell had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alberto Blackham. When Norman Minton was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 35 minutes had been played. After 36 played minutes U21 Australia got a freekick which was hit by Norman Minton. The supporters of U21 Australia booed when U21 England was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kristopher Carlisle didn't get a good kick on the ball. Hugh Barton recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 47th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Hugh Barton to make the kick off. In the 53rd minute Hugh Barton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Navarro Owens saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 England's Lewis Bell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Blackham in the 56th minute of play. If Marcus Laughton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U21 Australia's Arty Clist was substituted for Matthew Nelson. U21 Australia made a substitution. Blake Sawbridge replaced Paz Soekirno. An unexpectedly hard shot by Andre Jackson in the 62nd minute of play forced U21 Australia's goalkeeper Navarro Owens to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lance Szobczak sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. U21 England made a substitution. Nicholas Hooker replaced Pierre Wilkins. U21 England made a substitution. Glenn Floyd replaced Hugh Barton. U21 England's Perry Kaye was substituted for Scott Ash. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Australia's zone, Glenn Floyd stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Navarro Owens came out of the goal and Glenn Floyd tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Lewis Bell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ethan Spurr, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. If Lance Szobczak had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When U21 Australia's Abe Rose in the 81st minute got a chance for a shot 81st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 England's goalie prevented a goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Glenn Floyd got free with Navarro Owens in the 82nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Kristopher Carlisle during the 85th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 88 played minutes U21 Australia got a freekick which was hit by Arty Clist. Robin Dickens's late challenge caught a U21 Australia's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Robin Dickens helped the player get up and apologised. In the 90th minute, Robin Dickens hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of U21 England booed when U21 Australia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marcus Laughton didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The U21 Australia fans cheered their team off the field, for while U21 England had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.