The Panthers FC striker, who is a Year 11 student at Dubbo Christian School, is one of the youngest in the Matildas squad which opened its pool games with a 2-0 win over Thailand.

Ashley’s father Derek, said that a 12th minute injury to Tameka Butt saw Ashleigh injected into the game.

“She was obviously delighted to get on to the field and especially pleased to have a role in the side’s second half goal which sealed the result,” Derek said yesterday.

Australia was in control of the game when in the 86th minute, Jenna Tristram won the ball, passed it to Ashleigh Sykes on the right who spit the Thai defence with a precision pass to Victoria Balomenos in the box. She then finished with a long angled shot from 15 metres out.

Australian assistant coach Alistair Edwards said in a post match interview: “Ashleigh made her debut today, and was terrific. She set up a second goal and was a constant danger.”

Then on Saturday night, Ashleigh got her own name on the score sheet when Australia defeated the Philippines 7-0.

She was again used off the bench, came on the 64th minute and five minutes later scored.

“It’s been a big week for her on her first overseas trip,” Derek Sykes said.

“The heat and the food in Vietnam was very different to what she had experienced, but she is getting through and with the good people they have with the team, everything should be okay.

“All the players are real stars over there and there was a big group of media at the airport to meet them with a lot of focus on Ashleigh, as one of the youngest players in the squad.”

The Matildas played their third game in the series last night against Singapore.