Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

Match Report

Report 1

Author: Neil Morrow (Linfield Ladies)

The Ladies were at home to Glentoran in the NIWFA Davisons Frudles Premier League this week and with a terrible performance the week before, were determined to compete with their more experienced visitors. Indeed Linfield started the brighter and took the game to Glentoran.

Both defences were kept busy as each set of forwards appeared determined to outdo each other. Both teams played with a very high tempo and in a busy first half Linfield could easily have been ahead. Chances for Crawford and Dempster, could have been converted to send us in at half time ahead. Unfortunately on 40 minutes O’Hagan snatched a scrappy goal from a corner to put Glentoran ahead.

The second half saw the Glens, playing with a strong wind at their backs, pile on the pressure.

Wave after wave of attacks were solidly defended and on one or two occasions Linfield rode their luck. Mid way through the half McGuinness struck a superb free kick that saw the Glens keeper parry onto the post, following up was Montgomery who tussled strongly with the keeper and defenders also struck the post.

Both midfields were cancelling each other out and a dour battle of attrition ensued. Glentoran’s experience began to tell and a second goal came courtesy of a near post strike from O’Hagan.

Linfield continued to work hard but were unable to get the breakthrough their efforts deserved. This was an altogether excellent response to last weeks game. To compete with Glentoran who took to the field with no fewer than 9 senior internationals is encouraging. For long periods of the first half Linfield matched the Glens, however youthful energy does not generally win over experience, and so it proved.

One excellent product of the display is that goalkeeper Lucy Fagan has been drafted into the Northern Ireland Senior panel for next weeks game in Estonia as back up to Emma Higgins.

Lucy is a player who has been around Ladies football many years and has previously represented her country in the late 90’s (last century). All within the club would wish her the best of luck and congratulate her on her call up.

Report 2

Author: Rose Todd

The match kicked off at Billy Neil, and within the opening moments BU were on the attack, with good play from O’Hagan and Hislop. Possession was shared and well-fought for during the first half, and Linfield tried to get into the game and create something, but any Linfield pressure was dealt with well by the BU defence or collected by keeper Downey. BU came close to scoring with good attempts from Caldwell, Mulholland and O’Hagan. There were chances for both teams, but a break through was to come around the 40th minute for BU, when O’Hagan got through to score and make it 1-0 to BU. The first half ended like this.

Throughout the second half BU made a series of subs, Stephens on for Macklin, Quigley on for McCutcheon and Gratton on for Corry. In the opening moments of the second half Linfield won an early free-kick, which forced a brilliant save from keeper Downey, who got a hand to it. BU started to step up their game and created some good chances with shots from Caldwell and O’Hagan. Linfield tried to get into the game, but it didn’t come to anything. As the second half went on BU pressure proved too much for Linfield to handle, when O’Hagan got through to score a fantastic goal and make it 2-0 BU. In the closing stages of the match BU came close to adding a third with good play from Mulholland and Bailie. The match finished 2-0, another three points for BU.

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