Frudles Division Two Cup Semi Final
Portadown 1 v Valley Rangers Ladies 1
Valley winning 6-5 on penalties
In what was anticipated to be a close encounter between two competitive sides the home side created the first opportunity in the second minute Ruth Finlay shooting wide from a corner. Amy Burden and Nicole Graham then exchanged passes in Valley’s first thrust with keeper Frances Jackson saving Grahams effort, a minute later Lyn Johnston then fed Nicole with her shot flashing past the post. Rachel McConnell and Ruth Finlay exchanged passes in the home sides next raid but nothing tangible accrued.
The visitors mounted a concerted period of pressure on the Ports with Nicole Graham being denied by Frances Jackson in the 25th min, she then had another effort blocked well by Mairead McIlvenny a minute later before Natalie Graham passed to sister Nicole with keeper Jackson saving well. Anna Cunningham then put Amy Burden in procession with keeper Frances Jackson again denying the visitor before Cunningham herself had an effort well saved in the 29th min. Portadown then came back Rachel McConnell connecting with Ruth Finlay but the latter was denied by weight of numbers in defence. Laura Fraser then threatened but Leanne Forsythe dealt capably with the attack. Finlay McConnell and Nicole Duffy combined with Forsythe again denying the home side a shooting opportunity. In the Final action of the first half visitors keeper Suzanne McCullough and ports Laura Blair collided when running for a through ball but both recovered to continue following treatment.
Valley began the second half on the attack Anna Cunningham exchanged passes with Nicole Graham, two minutes later Kerri Graham played in Nicole with keeper Jackson keeping her shot out. Elaine Orr, Lyn Johnston and Amy Burden then wove an opportunity but superb covering by Tracey Anne Murphy denied them. Play then swung to the other end with Laura Fraser producing a fine run and shot which whistled over the bar. Elaine Orr then floated a dangerous free kick into the penalty area prior to having a close range shot kept out by keeper Frances Jackson. Twenty minutes from full time Stefanie McCullough passed to Amy Burden who opened the scoring with a crisp drive. The home side retaliated seconds later Laura Fraser having a free kick blocked. Play continued to ebb and flow with Gail McConnell clearing well following an attack initiated by Lauren Hutchinson and then from a corner the valley’s Amy Burden manoeuvred a shooting chance only to hit the post, with five minutes remaining Portadown were awarded a long range free kick which Niamh Larkin powered into the top corner of the net. The action c9ntinued apace Amy Burden seeing her net bound effort brilliantly kept out by Ruth Finlay’s headed clearance. Thus extra time was necessitated. In the seventh minute a half played, chances were at a premium Burden going closest with her 25-yard shot. That led to the dreaded penalty shoot out, each side converted each of their first five, truly commendable in the circumstances. The scorers were McConnell, Hutchinson, Duffy, Fraser and Larkin with Orr, Burden, Forsythe, Suzanne McCullough and Cunningham netting for Valley Ladies. Finlay then saw her penalty saved by keeper McCullough with Ports keeper Jackson the saving Nicole Grahams shot. Briege Creaney took Portadown’s 7th penalty with Suzanne McCullough superbly keeping her effort out. Thus the stage was left to Gail McConnell who powered her side into the Frudles Division Two Final netting past Jackson. Congratulations to both sides whose fitness stood the test well. And well done also to the Female Official who had a fine game.
By John Charleton
