Mid Ulster travelled to Belfast on Wednesday night to take on Newbridge Predators in the Davisons Frudles NIWFA Premier league. With both teams at the wrong end of the table the 3 points at stake were going to be invaluable. On a beautiful sunny evening the game kicked off.
Mid Ulster started the game brightly and indeed had the better share of the early possession. This possession led to an early chance for the visitors when Stacey Lee squeezed between two Predator defenders and tried to lift the ball past the onrushing keeper.
The Preds number 1 did well to get a touch on the ball and Stacey Lee bravely followed up with a header but she was unlucky to see her effort go wide of the post.
More pressure from the visitors saw Mykylea Stewart play a great ball to find Adele Gillespe who fed Lisa Richardson who drove a low shot across the Preds goal but once again the ball went wide of the post. Perhaps buoyed by this Predators started to get more possession of the ball and indeed their first effort a shot from the edge of the box was well held by Jacqueline Burns in the Mid Ulster goal. Mid Ulster tried to lift their game but despite good work in the middle from Hayley O’Donnell and Ruth Brown they couldn’t find a breakhrough.
Even a couple of cleverly worked corners were well dealt with by the Predators back line. Mid way through the half a mis timed tackle just inside the box resulted in a penalty being awarded to Predators. Fortune smiled on Mid Ulster as the ball hit the post and as it came back into play the penalty taker hit the ball into the net which is not permitted within the laws of the game so resulting in a goal kick to Mid Ulster.
Unfortunately for Mid Ulster they did not learn from this let off and minutes later Predators did open the scoring when a poor clearance allowed Emma McPeake to finish well from a tight angle to finish the half 1-0 to the home team.
Some positional changes were made by Mid Ulster at the break and the same personnel took to the field knowing that they needed to get themselves back into the game. Predators however were buoyed by their lead and they had the early pressure.
An early attack down the right wing by Predators was only snuffed out by a last ditch tackle from Colleen McCullagh. With Claire Brown moving into midfield Mid Ulster started to edge their way back into the game and the visiting support couldn’t believe it when Adele Gillespes delightful lob was somehow saved by the Predators keeper.
Mid way through the half Chloe Barnes replaced Lisa Richardson and the effect was nearly instantaneous. Good work from Stacey Lee and Adele Gillespe released Chloe Barnes through on goal and she made no mistake in drawing the scores level.
At this point everyone was optimistic that Mid Ulster could gain at least 1 point if not 3 but Predators had other ideas. From the kick off Predators went on the attack and a superb strike from Shannon Gratton left the Mid Ulster girls facing defeat once more.
As the game wore on Mid Ulster pushed on and although Karen Donnell and company tried to keep it tight at the back the counter attacks from Predators were increasing. The result was confirmed when Alex Ogle beat a couple of Mid Ulster tackles to score a good individual goal. Mid Ulster still tried to get back into the game but possession was not translated into strikes on target and the girls had to accept a very disappointing defeat.
Team: J Burns, C Brown, K Donnell, C McCullagh, M Stewart, B Jordan, L Richardson (C Barnes), H O’Donnell, R Brown, A Gillespe, S Lee.
Subs not used E McFarland, C Charles
Mid ULster Ladies would like to thank Signal Signs for Match Sponsorship.
