Lauren Brennan added a further four goals to her impressive tally this season. The pacey forward has now scored 9 goals in this competition and has scored 22 goals thus far in league and cup competitions.
The home team got off to a great start within 5 minutes when Lauren Brennan netted her first goal although there was a hint that she may have been offside. The centre forward had three great chances in the first ten minutes whilst Louise Coyle had a superb chance but her shot hit the side-netting. Craigavon battled well but Zara O Hagan and Maria Quinn nullified any threat with their strong tackling and closing down. The excellent Angela Stevenson, playing her best game of the season, showed great determination and used the ball extremely well whilst Aimee Mc Ginley and Alana Mc Shane were outstanding playing at the centre of defence. On 18 minutes Angela played a great ball wide to young Kelly Crompton who sprinted down the right flank and crossed a teasing ball into the box where Louise Coyle met it and rocketed it into the net. Minutes later Jessica Moorehead saw her shot parried wide of the upright by the goalkeeper but Kelly Crompton was at hand to side foot the ball into the net.
In a rare defensive lapse Craigavon pulled a goal back but showing great character the Swifts responded immediately when fullback Hannah Corey skipped past two opponents and played a defence-splitting pass which Lauren Brennan received. Lauren outpaced her marker and played the ball at pace across the goal to the back post where the onrushing Kelly Crompton duly tapped the ball into the net.
In the ascendancy now the Swifts added a fifth goal in a move which started from their defence. Alana Mc Shane won the ball and played it to Beth Cregan who had replaced the injured Jessica Moorehead. Beth waltzed past two Craigavon players and played a brilliant pin-point pass to Lauren Brennan. Lauren showed great physical strength, shouldering her opponent and the net seemed to open up for her as she placed the ball beyond the stranded City keeper. Louise Coyle brought the halftime score to 6-1 when she was at hand to hammer the ball beyond the keeper from a Zara O Hagan cross.
Within three minutes of the re-start Lauren Brennan completed her hat-trick in the best move of the game which involved 7 of the Swifts players.
Sion introduced Niamh Mc Aneny and ten minutes later they added another goal in a move which started with a brilliant pass from defence from Aimee Mc Ginley up the spine of the pitch to Maria Quinn who played the ball wide to Niamh Mc Aneny. Niamh played a 30 yard diagonal pass to Louise Coyle who controlled the ball and found Zara O Hagan. Zara had only one thing on her mind and she side-stepped a challenge and let the ball fly from 25 yards out giving the goalkeeper no chance.
In a rare attack Swifts number one Grace Quinn made a fine stop and immediately played a brilliant ball to Kelly Crompton on the right. In turn Kelly played the ball to Lauren Brennan who once again out-paced two defenders to slot home for her fourth goal of the evening. In the dying minutes Zara O Hagan saw her superb effort come back of the upright but a final score of 9-1 was a fair result on the night.
The Swifts now progress to the last eight of the Coca-Cola Irish Cup and would love another home draw against some of the big fish in the Women’s League.
Thanks to everyone who came along to support the Ladies.
Report -: Danny Gallagher Sion Swifts
