Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

Match Report

Tonight’s Davisons Frudles Premier leage match between Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers (playing at home at the Valley Leisure Centre) and Mid Ulster (placed fourth in the table with two wins before the match) was more or less one way traffic for Strikers. Played on a less than ideal surface, there were periods of domination by Strikers in which the width shown by wide midfielders Elaine Roden and Nicole Connolly constantly stretched the Mid Ulster defence to their limits. As a result, the number of crosses by the home team was greater than in previous games as was the influence of their strike force combination of Helen McKenna and the fit again Terri Harper.

Crusaders started like Usain Bolt from the blocks and scored within three minutes. Following a cross from Elaine Roden which was mishit by Nicole Connolly in the box, the ball dropped kindly to captain Nadine Murphy whose shot from outside the box was accurate, powerful and gave the Mid Ulster keeper no opportunity. In the next 25 minutes or so, Strikers played a high tempo attacking style of football which rested on the width offered by their wingers and support play from Roisin McFeely who played a high midfield position. As a result, 9 attempts on goal were registered by the home team within the first 25 minutes though coach Billy Wylie will not be happy with the number that were off target. Despite their domination of the first half, the score remained 1-0 at halftime and the strong wind was predicted to lend Mid Ulster some added impetus at the turnover.

Strong words from the Mid Ulster management seemed to instill some spirit such that they created four attempts on goal in a 10 minute spell (from 45 to 55 mins). Two of those brought Strikers’ keeper Angela Platt into action. These opportunities undoubtedly raised the spirits of the away team who were much more confident of getting back into the game with the benefit of a strong wind at their backs and a positional change at centre forward. However, they will also look back on this 10 minute spell as a missed opportunity and, as the saying goes, opportunities are never lost because someone will always take one that is missed. In this case, last year’s top scorer for Strikers, Terri Harper, created an opening on the edge of the box and curled a sweet left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner of Mid Ulster’s goal which left the score at 2-0 on 55 minutes. She was on hand 10 minutes to later to convert a block by Mid Ulster’s busy keeper from an instinctive shot on target by Strikers’ industrious forward, Helen McKenna to make the score 3-0.

Strikers’ demonstrated their strength in depth with three substitutions in the final third of the game (Debbie McCarthy for Nicole Connolly, Nicola McWilliams for Nadine Murphy and Claire Carson for Terri Harper) and, as has been their pattern in the league thus far, they finished the second half strongly. Following sustained pressure from Elaine Roden and a perfectly placed left wing cross from Lisa Armour, Helen McKenna rose above the Mid Ulster defence with three minutes to go but she was was decidedly unlucky when five inches or so of woodwork – in this instance, the crossbar – prevented her offensive header from rattling the back of the net and capping off what was another high tempo game by her. Strikers’ defence was never stretched and left back Lisa Armour excelled in the space afforded her by the formation adopted by the home team from the outset. Sara Booth’s covering and support play was the bedrock which allowed the Strikers’ midfield to play higher up the field and be creative in danger areas while Terri Harper’s two goal haul on her first start this season will undoubtedly please the Strikers’ management team. Much achieved on that score but much more yet to be done for the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Tonight’s win keeps Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers in poll position at the mid point of the league, three points above Glentoran Belfast United and with a goal difference of four. Their next match is away to Linfield Ladies on June 9th in Ormeau Park.

Report by Dr Katie Liston

Second Report by Clare Charles

Mid Ulster travelled to Newtownabbey on Wednesday night to take on the current leaders of the Davisons Fruddles Premier league.

Mid Ulster knew that they would be up against it and the visiting supporters feared the worst when Nadine Murphy opened the scoring for Strikers after just 2minutes of the game.

However the Mid Ulster girls kept at their task and whilst Crues enjoyed the majority of possession they couldnt add to their early score.

It was not all one way traffic and Rachel Stewart was holding the ball up well when Mid Ulster did get a chance to break. Good work on the left by Colleen McCullagh and Jill Overend released Simone Magill who was brought down outside the box on the left handside.

Unfortunately the resultant free kick didn’t test Angela Platt in Crues goals and the half finished with Newtownabbey holding a slender lead.

Mid Ulster started the second half strongly and were starting to get a foothold in the game but Crues showed their class and a quick break was coolly finished by Terri Harper to make it 2 -0 to the home team.

Mid Ulster made two changes with Chloe Barnes and Louise Murphy coming on for Rachel Stewart and Stacey Lee. The Mid Ulster girls did not give up but they were finding it tough to break through an organised Newtownabbey back line.

The Mid Ulster girls did show flashes of brilliance such as a 40 yard run by Adele Gillespie and some good work on the right handside by Simone Magill and Ruth Brown.

Crues were not to falter and they wrapped up the points when Terri Harper pounced quickest on a good save by Tracey Elliott to nab a third goal for the home team.

In the final moments Clare Charles replaced the injured Adele Gillespie and shortly afterwards the final whistle sounded.

Final score Newtownabbey 3 Mid Ulster 0

Team T Elliott, C Brown, R Brown, K Donnell, C McCullagh, S Magill, S Lee (L Murphy), J Overend, H O’Donnell, A Gillespe (C Charles), R Stewart (C Barnes), Subs not used D Rankin & E Junk.

Report -: Clare Charles

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