Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

Match Report

First Report

Mid Ulster travelled to Dundonald on Wednesday night to take on Linfield in the second game of the NIWFA Davisons Frudles Premier League. Linfield had undergone a lot of changes since last season and with their amalgamation with Northland Raiders they boasted a strong squad.

Mid Ulster started the game well and within 8minutes Simone Magill had the first chance of the game but the Linfield no 1 stood up well to make a good save. This attack spurred the Mid Ulster girls on and a good through ball from Hayley O’Donnell again released Simone Magill but once again the Linfield keeper made a great double save.

From the resulting clearance Linfield broke and this break resulted in their first real attack on goal from which they opened the scoring with a great strike from Danielle Ennis.

Mid Ulster continued to press and indeed they did have their chances but the Linfield keeper was outstanding and pulled off a number of great saves. Towards the end of the half Linfield started to apply more pressure and finished the half winning a couple of corners.

Both sides started the second half unchanged and both teams earned corners early in the half but they couldn’t convert them. Changes were made by both sides with Chloe Barnes replacing Ruth McGarvey for Mid Ulster. With 15 minutes of the half played Linfield doubled their advantage from a Michelle Crawford (aka Screech) header from a corner and left Mid Ulster with a mountain to climb.

Mid Ulster went all out to get back into the game with Racheal Stewart replacing Louise Murphy and playing 3 up front. It was a gamble that was unfortunately not to pay off when a poor clearance was picked up by the Linfield number 10 and with keeper Debbie Rankin caught out of goals she managed to lob the ball into the top corner.

Mid Ulster thought that things could not get much worse but everyone held their breath when Adele Gillespe was involved in a nasty collision. It was to everyones relief when she was able to continue and in the last few minutes she struck a great goal from 25 yards to grab a consolation goal for the Mid Ulster girls.

Final score Linfield 3 Mid Ulster 1

Team D Rankin, K Donnell, C Brown, R Brown, L Murphy (R Stewart), R McGarvey (C Barnes), A Gillespe, H O’Donnell, S Lee, M Scott, S Magill. Subs not used: J McGurk, K Ballentine, C Charles.

Second Report: Linfield lead the way against Mid Ulster

Linfield Ladies turned around last weeks disappointing defeat to Crusaders Strikers with a well deserved 3-1 win at home to Mid Ulster Ladies at Billy Neill complex tonight.

Mid Ulster started the game brightly and although having the majority of the early play failed to capitalise on their chances. Striker Simone Magill, one of the finest talents at 16 years of age, was in tremendous form for the visitors and really could have scored a couple of goals prior to Linfields opener. The fact that she did not was down to some excellent goalkeeping from Grace Palmer. Grace had an excellent game showing great agility and bravery at the feet of the forwards.

Dani Ennis, herself only 16 struck on 20 mins with a fantastic left foot volley that flew into the top corner. Linfield began to dominate the midfield battles and Dempster and Crawford could easily have added to the tally before half-time. Montgomery and McGuinness were causing the visitors full-backs constant problems and with a bit more composure and a better final delivery the scoreline could have been much more comfortable.

Linfield started the second half in great fashion. Working hard for each other, played some excellent football at times. Some quick one touch football lead to an opening for McGuinness whose shot was just off target. McGuinness carved open a guilt edged chance for Crawford on the hour with the big striker hitting the cross bar with an instinctive stab from a wonderful cross. Five minutes later Linfield increased their lead. McGuinness swung in a corner and Crawford rose at the near post glancing a header beyond the keeper. Mid Ulster were not detered and came back at Linfield with a number of chances however the defensive unit held firm.

On 73 mins Dempster hunting down the visitors keeper forced her into a weak clearance and Crawford picked up the loose ball with a first time volley back into the net. Linfield pressed ahead continuing with some free flowing football and really could have scored more. In the 86th minute Mid Ulster mid fielder Adele Gillespie picked up a weak clearance and smashed a superb shot from 30yds into the roof of the net.

That ended the scoring on the night in what was a very good game of football. Both teams trying to play football on the deck, was a tremendous advert for Ladies football. Always competitive, Mid Ulster will rue missed opportunities, but in the end Linfield converted theirs and took the points.

A pleased Neil Morrow commented, “we rode our luck at times in the first half but stuck to our game and eventually the hard work paid off. This was a good result for us against an upcoming team who finished 3rd in the league last year, but it is only a start. we will enjoy the win and look towards next week’s game at home to Predators”

The Ladies next fixture is at Billy Neill on Wednesday 28th April against Newbridge Predators with a 7pm kick off. The reserves are also in League action with their first game away to Glentoran also at Billy Neill on Thursday 29th April.

Report -: Neil Morrow

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