There was some great news for Football Ferns fans coming out of Germany as defender Meikayla Moore made her long-awaited comeback from injury.

The 23-year-old suffered heartbreak on the eve of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, when she ruptured her Achilles in training just two days out from the opening game.

That put Moore out of action for a lengthy period but her hard work in rehabilitation has paid off, the centre back returning to friendly action for MSV Duisburg.

The Frauen Bundesliga season resumes next month with Moore hoping to continue her comeback by re-establishing herself in the starting line-up.

One of Moore’s regular partners in the Football Ferns defence is meanwhile in imperious form for Melbourne City in the Australian W-League, Rebekah Stott making the Team of the Week for the fifth time.

Stott helped City claim a fifth straight clean sheet in a 2-0 win over the Newcastle Jets and even provided an assist, popping up in the opposition penalty box to turn swiftly after receiving a pass and tee up Emily van Egmond for a strike into the bottom corner.

City now have a fortnight off before returning to action for a local derby against Melbourne Victory, in which Stott will come up against fellow Fern Annalie Longo.

Longo is likewise in good form, putting in an outstanding display as Victory swept aside Adelaide United 3-0.

The Football Ferns playmaker very nearly got on the scoresheet herself but saw her shot cleared off the line. Longo and co will now take on Canberra United this Sunday before her meeting with Stott on 13 February.

Over in Europe, Erin Nayler has been experiencing mixed fortunes for Bordeaux. The Ferns goalkeeper was handed a starting berth in the first game back following the mid-winter break, a French Cup encounter against Paris FC that ended 1-1 before Bordeaux went on to win on penalties.

But Nayler then had to settle for a place on the bench as league action resumed, watching on as Bordeaux pulled off one of the results of the season by holding a star-studded Olympique Lyonnais to a scoreless draw.

Hannah Wilkinson was meanwhile in the thick of the action in Portugal, scoring twice and providing two assists as Sporting CP put five unanswered goals past A-dos-Francos.
 

Not having as much luck in front of goal as her Football Ferns team mate was Katie Rood, who had a couple of sights of goal but couldn’t find the net as Lewes kicked off the new year with a scoreless stalemate against London Bees.

The draw snapped a lengthy losing streak for Lewes but they remain just three points away from the relegation zone.

Rood was not the only Football Fern to be denied by the crossbar with Olivia Chance also seeing her strike crash against the woodwork as Bristol City were edged out 1-0 by Liverpool. The loss puts the Robins in a precarious position at the foot of the FA Women’s Super League table with Liverpool having now inched ahead of them on goal difference.

Tottenham Hotspur are faring better in mid-table, despite falling to a 3-0 loss to Manchester United on a foggy day. Football Ferns centurion Ria Percival played the full match in midfield and picked up a yellow card late on after a late challenge sparked a melee.

Article added: Wednesday 22 January 2020