The Westfield Matildas have claimed a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in their international friendly in front of a healthy crowd of 2,866 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Bluetongue Stadium.
In their last hit-out on home soil before departing for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 in Germany, Tom Sermanni's side maintained their 17-year unbeaten streak against New Zealand, and took the early advantage through a Catherine Cannuli header.
The lead was to be short-lived, however, as the Football Ferns levelled matters midway through the first half courtesy of a Hannah Wilkinson tap-in.
But Collette McCallum's ninth international goal from a trademark free-kick on the edge of the penalty box just after halftime gave the Westfield Matildas a lead that they would hold for the remainder of the game.
Indeed, it would not take long for the Westfield Matildas to assert their authority over their rivals as Cannuli gave the side a deserved lead in just the 9th minute when she headed home Sam Kerr's curling cross from the right.
Ria Percival looked to restore parity for New Zealand moments later when she saw Melissa Barbieri inches off her line and launched an audacious 30-yard lob. But the Westfiled Matildas' skipper was up to the challenge, and made a fine save to tip the ball over the bar.
There was nothing Barbieri could do in the 26th minute, though, as Wilkinson finished off a strong run and low cross from the right flank by Ali Riley from close range.
Westfield Matildas strikers Tameka Butt and Kyah Simon looked dangerous for the remainder of the half, but with their respective efforts whizzing over the bar, the trans-Tasman rivals would go into the dressing rooms at halftime locked at 1-all.
A foul on Butt in the early stages of the second half would prove to be a turning point in the match.
From the subsequent free-kick just on the edge of the box, McCallum curled a sweet left-footed strike inside Bindon's near post to claim the lead once more.
Sermanni then brought on Ellyse Perry and attacking midfielder Emily van Egmond in the second stanza as both sides pushed for goals in the closing stages of the match.
But despite efforts from Butt and Kerr late on, the physical encounter would finish 2-1 in favour of the home side increasing their winning streak against the New Zealanders to 21.
The Westfield Matildas will depart for Germany on June 14 before they take on Brazil in their opening match of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup on June 29 in Dusseldorf.
"We made eight changes to the team from our game on Thursday and when you do that you lose some of your fluidity and cohesion," said Westfield Matildas coach Tom Sermanni.
"I think some of our players are just lacking a bit of match fitness and this is something we'll now have to work on over the next month before we go to Germany.
"But in saying that we won the game and you've got to remember that sometimes that's the most important thing at the end of the day."