Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

Match Report

Downpatrick Ladies 2
Limavady Ladies 3

Monday night (16th August 2010) was the night that saw Divison One’s two heavyweights square off against each other. Victory for favourites Downpatrick would all but guarantee promotion whilst a win for Limavady would see them go top of the table entering this season’s final fixture. As was expected the match began as a tense affair with neither team really pushing forward in the risk of conceding at the other end. It was Downpatrick that eventually took the gamble going forward and won a corner. From it, the ball was fizzed across the six yard box, finding the Downpatrick striker to convert for 1-0. Limavady came close from their attacks and were unlucky with an effort from Rebekah McMullan narrowly going wide and Carole Cooke’s shot being cleared of the line. Downpatrick doubled their lead after twenty minutes when their midfielder drove a shot at goal. Goalkeeper Sarah Lemon could only parry the shot, in the wet conditions, and Downpatrick’s forward was on hand to put away the rebound for 2-0. The score-line was deceiving, as the game became a real midfield battle for possession, with Limavady’s Kim Middleton and Rhonda Curry holding up strong against their opposite numbers. Meanwhile both teams created few chances up front, the best of which fell to Limavady’s Louise McAllister, who was played through but dragged her shot wide. The game was made tenser throughout the half with hard tackles flying in and at times, threatened to boil over completely. Goal mouth action was few and far between but the football on display was a great spectacle for the crowd and at half time Downpatrick led 2-0. The second half saw a down pour of rain make it hard for each team to anticipate passes as the surface became greasy. It was Limavady who attacked first, when centre back Karen McAllister put the ball inches wide after connecting from a corner. The game remained cagey, with both teams cancelling each other out, but Limavady kept the pressure on in search of the goal they needed. The turning point in the match came midway through the half when Downpatrick’s striker was shown a red card for dissent. Limavady continued to play their passing game relying on sole striker Carole Cooke to be the target player and laying the ball off for Orla Boyle and Louise McAllister to drive at the defence. After continually knocking at the door, the goal finally came for Limavady twenty minutes from the end. It took an exquisite touch and deft volley from Karen Haslet 20 yards out, to score what looked to be a late consolation, 2-1. Limavady have battled hard all season and they didn’t look like faltering now, as Boyle picked the ball up on the right wing and cut inside on goal. With no shot available she passed to the edge of the ‘D’, where Cooke was waiting. With a box full of Downpatrick shirts, she passed the ball further left, when who should arrive right on cue, but Rebekah McMullan to fire low and hard across the goalkeeper and in, 2-2. From 2-0 down Limavady grinded out a result and with five minutes left there was a feeling a winner was there and they could get it. Deep into the 90, Louise McAllister was brought down in the area by the Downpatrick goalkeeper, conceding a penalty and receiving her marching orders in the process. The pressure was immense surrounding the single most important kick of Limavady’s season. Up stepped Carole Cooke to collect the ball and place it on the spot. When the whistle blew she smashed it in with no hesitation. Limavady lead in stoppage time. At the final whistle, Downpatrick had stumbled at the penultimate hurdle whilst Limavady grabbed top spot going into the final fixture. Based on this display, Limavady have shown their intentions for this league title, that they don’t just feel they deserve it, but they want it.

Report -: Karen McAllister

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