NIWFA Davisons Frudles Division 3.
Abbey Villa 2 V Crumlin United 4
Great strength should be gathered from this performance from Abbey Villa Ladies but joint league leaders Crumlin’s never say die attitude won the day. Having travelled to Bangor for this fixture, Crumlin set out their stall quickly and the lively partnership of Anna McBride and Cathy Scannell soon had rewards when Crumlin went 2 -0 up in the first half with a goal from each girl.
Abbey Villa tried hard but couldn’t get to grips with the impressive Crumlin midfield and despite her best efforts Suzi Rea just wasn’t getting either the service or support up front for the Villa.
Half time came and with Villa losing Becky Adams to a painful hand injury early in the second half young Victoria (Tori) Jackson started to take more of a hold of the game.
A mistake from Crumlin’s Mairead Kearney putting the ball into her own net seemed to inspire Villa and it wasn’t long before Suzi Rea levelled the score. This seemed to disconcert Crumlin and Villa started to apply pressure with Tori and Vivienne McMaster now causing them all sorts of problems.
Crumlin brought the highly influential Michelle Gregory who despite picking up an injury in the first half stayed on the pitch for the full ninety back into the midfield and with Gillian Fitzpatrick and Laura McGimpsey now marshalling the Crumlin front two well the game could have went either way. Positional changes by Crumlin saw them snatch a few chances, with some of the best falling to McBride.
Scannell’s pace was causing problems and she was doing some of the best running of the last defender I’ve seen all season but just couldn’t put chances away. Oonagh Duff in the Villa goal seemed to be on a personal crusade not to allow them to score although she did give her back line a few heart attacks! Villa failed to take numerous chances from free kicks and as time ticked by it looked like Villa would pick up their first point of the season.
But with two minutes left Anna McBride just got her head to the ball and knocked it past the out coming Villa keeper. Undeterred Villa took the kick off and headed straight up field pressing for an equaliser this left some space at the back and McBride completed her hattrick with a wonderful 20 yard drive in injury time.
Whilst the score doesn’t reflect the closeness of the match Villa should be hearten by an excellent display and if they keep going like this will undoubtedly get their first points of the season soon.
Report -: Kieran Coulter
