RESULT 1 – 1

The N. Ireland side started the game positively by dominating possession. Within the first fifteen minutes of the game we had three one on one situations, with the welsh goalkeeper coming up on top each time. Towards the end of the first half we went close to scoring on several occasions, with shots from Amber Dempster (Northland Raiders) and Lauren Wade (Bertie Peacocks), but again the welsh goalkeeper came to the rescue for the Welsh team pushing shots wide for corners. Half time no score.

The 2nd half started the same way the 1st half had ended with N. Ireland dominating possession. Ten minutes into the 2nd half a shot from Kirsty McGuiness (Linfield) had forced a corner, the captain of the squad Kendra McMullan stepped up to take the corner. The corner kick was directed towards the penalty spot, a Welsh defender managed to get her head to it, but did not manage to get much distance on the header and it fell to Siobhan Bell (Donegal Celtic), who struck the ball into the net for the N. Ireland side. N. Ireland 1 Wales 0.

In the last ten minutes the Welsh side started to push for an equaliser, forcing two corners and stretching the N. Ireland side. With two minutes to go the Welsh team got their equaliser through a ball not being cleared far enough, it fell to a Welsh forward who struck it into the back of the net.

The final whistle went and the N. Ireland side felt hard done by as they did not deserve to lose the match.

Player of the Match – Ciara McGuire (Glentoran Belfast United)

Report by Sharlene Rainey