NIWFA Week 10 League Round up (and Divisional Cups)
This week saw the 1st round of the Coca Cola divisional cups being played as well as a top two Carnegie Premiership clash between Glentoran BU and Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers at the Billy Neil playing fields.
A must win game for the Glens saw a partisan crowd creating an electric atmosphere at the Comber Road venue.
However, the Strikers were far from overawed and defended brilliantly from the first whistle.
Time after time the Glens were unable to prise open a watertight Strikers defence.
Helen McKenna (Strikers) and Kelly Bailie (GBU).
In midfield there was little quarter asked for nor given and with so much at stake it was likely that a set piece might settle the contest and so it proved with a an inch perfect corner kick being headed into the Glens net by Helen McKenna despite the best efforts of keeper Emma Higgins.
With their noses in front the Strikers held on to record the double over Cheryl Lamonts side having beaten them in a five goal thriller earlier in the season.
The Strikers continued their winning ways in the Coca Cola cup with a crushing 6-0 win over Mid Ulster Ladies.
Claire Carson netting a hat trick with Lynsey Patterson, Laura Johnston and Danielle McDowell all getting onto the score sheet.
The Glens bounced back from their league disappointment with an excellent win over a Linfield side that had beaten Newtownabbey just a couple of weeks ago.
Cup holders Glentoran were in no mood to lose two games on the bounce and produced a typical professional performance to win 2-0.
Ace strikers Amy Cory and Nadene Caldwell both netted for the Glens.
Clare Carson (strikers) and Amy Doherty (GBU) Image by Gareth Irvine.
Next up for the Belfast side is a game against the Lakers with the players waiting to take advantage of any slip up by the Strikers.
Ballymena United All Stars are very much the dark horses of the Premier cup and a 3-0 hammering of struggling Loughgall has certainly enhanced their cup chances.
Goals from Laura Elliot, Alison Smyth and Roision Havelin, who hadn’t scored all season, ensured a comfortable evening for the Antrim side.
Newbridge Predators and Northland Raiders produced a real nail biter in their cup tie.
Raiders pulled off something of a shock as they out gunned Sandy Shaw’s side by 3 goals to 2.
Emma McAleese with a brace and a first in the season for Amber Dempster were the Raiders cup heroes!
Sara Booth (Strikers) and Laura Hislop (GBU).
In the Coca Cola Championship Divisional Cup there were some very close games.
League leaders YMCA scraped past Donegal Celtic with a 1-0 win.
Dromore Amateurs ripped up the form book when they ambushed 2nd place Larne.
A 2-0 cup victory could be just the catalyst needed to kick start Dromore’s season.
Cliftonville Ladies nudged past Coleraine Ladies with a 3-2 victory.
Louise Irvine, Marissa Callaghan and Niamh Cooper all netted for Cliftonville while a well taken brace from Lauren Wade wasn’t enough to rescue the game for Coleraine.
Only penalty kicks separated Fermanagh Mallards and Carrick Ladies at the finish with the Mallards edging past their opponents.
Emma Higgins (GBU) – Image by Gareth Irvine.
The divisions bottom club Carrick battled all the way to the final whistle and if they can maintain that level of performance could yet escape the relegation trap door.
The teams were level at 2-2 following goals from Aisling McCaughey for Fermanagh and Lorna Hill and Emma Murray scoring for Carrick.
However, Fermanagh held their nerve to progress to the next round.
For more results and tables go to www.niwfa.org
Helen McKenna (Strikers) celebrating the winning goal – Image by Gareth Irvine.
Report by Gareth Irvine
