Ballymoney United 0 v Valley Rangers Ladies 4
The visitors travelled to play their penultimate league game against a side in contention for second place. Seconds after the kick off, Valley opened the scoring when Amy Burden notched her 20th goal of the season in only eight matches in the league, calmly rounding the defenders before placing the ball into the net.
Although shaken by this reverse, the home side countered with a fine link up between Lauren Marshall, Carla Dickie and Nicki Parke. Dickie then floated a threatening pass into the penalty area and Suzanne McCullough the Valley keeper was injured in the resulting melee; she was however able to continue after treatment.
The Valley then had a sustained period of pressure, Elaine Orr and Anna Cunningham combining before Nicole Graham and Amy Burden wove a shooting opportunity which screamed over the bar. A free kick taken by Leanne Forsythe led to a corner and then Rebecca McAtee, Elaine Orr and McAtee again linked impressively.
A promising link up involving Nicki Parke, Lauren Marshall and Sirri Topping was nullified by a fine challenge from Grace Imrie, before in the 31st minute Gail McConnell, Nicole Graham, Anna Cunningham, Amy Burden and Elaine Orr exchanged passes, with Orr’s shot being parried for a corner.
In the final action of the half, which was foreshortened to 40 minutes, Natalie Graham calmly broke up a home thrust involving Caitlyn McKane and Carla Dickie.
The home side had a distinct territorial edge on the restart, a Carla Dickie run causing problems. Valley retaliated seconds later, Grace Imrie, Anna Cunningham, Stefanie McCullough and Elaine Orr manoeuvring an opportunity, the shot going inches wide.
Ballymoney again came forward, Samantha Hickinson, Nicki Parke and Caitlyn McKane linking, with Grace Imrie’s challenge denying the latter. The home side won three corners in the space of three minutes but nothing tangible accrued, before Carla Dickie’s shot was palmed away for a throw in by keeper Suzanne McCullough.
Thirteen minutes into the half the visitors threatened, Anna Cunningham feeding Amy Burden whose shot was deflected for a corner. Imrie, Orr and Cunningham exchanged passes in a promising thrust before Burden, Nicole Graham and Cunningham did likewise, but the scoreline did not change until in the 28th minute Grace Imrie, Elaine Orr and Amy Burden linked up with the latter scoring.
Five minutes latter the points were effectively secured when Buden, Orr and Graham opened up the home rearguard with Nicole scoring. The scoring was finalised when with three minutes to go, Amy Burden’s run and unselfish pass gave Nicole Graham the chance to double her personal tally.
In the last action of the game, the hard working Lyn Johnston connected with Anna Cunningham but the weight of numbers in defence denied her.
By John Charleton
