NIWFA Davisons Frudles Premier League – Mid Ulster Ladies V Linfield Ladies
Following a disappointing draw last week away to Cliftonville the Mid Ulster girls had another tough encounter at the Sports Arena on Monday night.
The visitors were Linfield who had beaten the Mid Ulster girls in their home fixture earlier in the season. Mid Ulster started well with Hayley O’Donnell and Adele Gillespe taking control in the midfield area. An early free kick was delivered by Claire Brown and Michelle Scott was unlucky not to get her head on the end of it.
This early opportunity spurred on the home team and shortly after Adele Gillespie released Simone Magill down the right handside. Simone made good work to test the Linfield number one but she stood up well to make a good save. Linfield tried to get a foothold in the game but the Mid Ulster back four were proving difficult to break down.
After 15 minutes Mid Ulster made the breakthrough. Great battling saw Hayley O’Donnell win the ball in midfield and played a great ball through. Michelle Scott was onto it in a flash and her finish was unstoppable.
The home support were still celebrating the opener when with the next attack Mid Ulster won a penalty after a handball in the penalty area. Simone Magill stepped up to the mark and she gave the Linfield number 1 no chance with a sweetly struck penalty. Linfield tried to pick themselves up and they did win a free about 25 yards out from the Mid Ulster goal. However they couldn’t get the ball on target and Mid Ulster continued to boss the game.
Just before the half time whistle Mid Ulster had a scare when a mix up in the Mid Ulster defence resulted in keeper Tracy Elliott picking up a back pass. The indirect free kick 8 yards out was well defended and the home team went into the break 2 goals to the good.
Linfield started the second half with all guns blazing and indeed created some early opportunities. A free header hit the bar and at this stage perhaps Linfied knew it wasn’t going to be their night. Mid Ulster started to get back into the game and Louise Murphy came on to replace Stacey Lee who had put in a good shift on the left side of midfield.
Play had now shifted to the right hand side and Simone Magill was seeing a lot of the ball. On a number of occasions the Linfield number 1 prevented the home team adding to their advantage, including a brave save at the feet of Michelle Scott.
On a rare attack down the left hand side of the pitch for Mid Ulster Michelle Scott picked up the ball beat two defenders and scored an excellent goal from a tight angle to make the score 3-0. Linfield pulled one back almost immediately after a bit of a breakdown in communication saw the ball deflected past Tracy Elliot by her own player.
With 10 minutes to play Mid Ulster lifted their game again to ensure there was no Linfield comeback and Louise Murphy and Michelle Scott both had chances. Rachel Stewart replaced Chloe Barnes with minutes to go and the score finished with a 3 -1 victory for the home team.
Team T Elliott, C Brown, R Brown, K Donnell, C McCullagh, A Gillespe, H O’Donnell, S Magill, S Lee (L Murphy), C Barnes (R Stewart), M Scott
Subs not used: J Overend, D Rankin, K Ballentine, L Richardson
The juniors went down 2 – 0 to a strong Fermangh side on Saturday with Samantha Kelly winning player of the match once again. There were good performances throughout the team.
Good luck to Simone Magill who travels with the N.Ireland Senior Ladies team for their away fixture to Iceland on 19 June and for the home game v Serbia on 24 June in Coleraine in the European Qualifiers.
