Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

The second game this week saw Mid Ulster host Fermanagh in must win NIWFA Frudles Premier League clash. With the Mid Ulster girls sitting in the relegation zone only 3 wins in the last three games of the season would present the girls with any chance of avoiding a play off.
The game was kindly sponsored by Vion Food Group Ltd Cookstown.
Fermanagh began the game brightly and with their first attack they won an early corner. The Mid Ulster back line cleared comfortably and the Mid Ulster girls set about putting some pressure on the visitors. Simone Magil was her usual lively self giving her opposite number in the Fermanagh defence plenty to think about. A flowing attack for Mid Ulster began with left back Ruth Brown setting Lisa Richardson on a run from which she won a corner kick. The clearance from the Fermanagh back line dropped only as far as Adele Gillespie and her first time shot crept narrowly over the bar. Mid Ulster continued to press but Fermanagh also signalled a threat when Lyn McFredrick tried to lob Mid Ulster keeper Jacqueline Burns from 30 yards out. Minutes later and Fermanagh again threatened but a great tackle from Claire Rooney kept the game scoreless. Good work again from Lisa Richardson then saw Simone Magill teed up for a shot but she couldn’t get any power behind it to test the Mallards keeper. The Mid Ulster pressure was starting to tell and on 17 minutes the home team got the breakthrough. A good cross field ball from Mykylea Stewart found Adele Gillespie and she made no mistake as she calmly played the ball past the advancing Mallards keeper and in off the inside of the post. With Mid Ulster 1-0 up the girls started to play some great football and chances started to come thick and fast. Stacey Lee just couldn’t get the ball through a host of bodies inside the box and Adele Gillespie nearly doubled her tally only for a great tackle from a Mallards defender. Mykylea Stewart was involved again as she found Brooke Jordan in midfield who played in Adele Gillespie. Having slipped the ball past her player Adele was the victim of a cynical block which the Fermanagh defender was lucky not to be booked for. The resultant free kick came back off the wall and Hayley O’Donnells chipped effort was just over the bar. The game was good viewing for the large number of home fans and Emma Kerr showed great ball control on the side line as the ball went out for a throw in. Simone Magill was next to have a strike and the crowd couldn’t believe it when her effort from 8 yards out went over the bar. Simone was in action again shortly afterwards through one on one with the Fermanagh keeper. The Fermanagh Number 1 stood her ground and made a great save. Just when Simone thought it wasn’t to be her night she finally got her just desserts as she took a cross from Lisa Richardson with a great first touch and then placed the ball into the net. So 38 minutes played and 2-0 to the home team. Fermanagh tried to press straight from the kick off and Claire Rooney again had to make a good clearance even with the help of a push in the back. From the free kick Adele Gillespie picked up the ball in midfield and went on a penetrating run. Having shrugged off two Fermanagh defenders she sent in a curling effort which was unfortunate to come off corner of the cross bar and post and away to safety. Stacey Lee then showed off her nifty footwork but once again her shot lacked the power to trouble the Fermanagh keeper. Simone Magill then tried the spectacular with an overhead kick but the ball sailed high and over. In the dying moments of the half Fermanagh set off on a counterattack but Hayley O’Donnell was on her toes to make an important tackle to break down the move and leave the half ending 2-0 to the home team.
Mid Ulster started the second half winning an early free kick just inside their own half. A superb delivery from Mykylea Stewart was expertly met by Adele Gillespie and her first time flick on hit the post and went wide. Fermanagh made some early changes and tried to press the game higher up the pitch but Mid Ulster were benefitting from Jacqueline Burns superb goal kicks that were creating chances for Simone Magill and Adele Gillespie. The game entered a slightly scrappy period with Fermanagh trying to get a foothold and Mid Ulster showing some signs of nerves or maybe even fatigue as this was their second game in 3 days. A worrying injury to Adele Gillespie shook the home team up but thankfully Adele returned to the action and nearly scored with her first involvement thereafter. A Mid Ulster corner saw Brooke Jordan rise well and she was unlucky to see her header go just over the bar. More great play through from midfield saw Hayley O’Donnell and Adele Gillespie link up to release Simone Magill but once again the Fermanagh number 1 was up to the task. Even with all the Mid Ulster pressure Fermanagh were still dangerous on the break and a free 25 yards out was watched over the bar with relief by the home support. More Fermanagh pressure saw Ruth Brown called into action with some tidy defensive work. The game was now getting stretched and this was suiting the Mid Ulster front two. Simone Magill played the ball back to Brooke Jordan but her shot was just over and moments later Lisa Richardson also had an effort just off target. On 38 minutes Ruth Brown again released Lisa Richardson who whipped in a great cross. Simone Magill was on hand to pressure the Fermanagh number one who spilled the cross. Simone played the ball back across goal where Stacey Lee was lurking to make it 3-0 to Mid Ulster. On 39 minutes Chloe Barnes replaced the battle scarred Adele Gillespie . Fermanagh again tried to get something out of the game but resolute defending from Claire Brown and Claire Rooney still held firm. Mid Ulster too had further chances as normal time came to an end. The Fermanagh girls did get their consolation goal in the 4th minute of injury time when Lyn McFredrick was on hand to nod home a cross in from the left. An entertaining game and three points in the bag for the Mid Ulster girls. Next up a trip to Ballymena on Wednesday night. Friday 29 July is the Club Duck Race at Wellbrook Beetling Mill followed by a BBQ in The Railway Bar Cookstown. First Ducks in the water at 6.30pm.
Team: J Burns, C Brown, C Rooney, R Brown, M Stewart, L Richardson, S Lee, M Stewart, B Jordan, S Magill, A Gillespe ( C Barnes) Subs not used L Murphy, E McFarland, R Stewart, D Bettany.