By Sammy Martin
Title fight in One
DIVISION ONE
THE scramble for promotion continues on its hectic course as Division One maintains a blow for blow exchange among the title contenders in the Davison’s Frudles NIWFA League.
This one has all the makings of a final-day decider as there is little to split those in title contention. It would indeed be foolish to forecast the eventual outcome as all the frontrunners are genuine contenders.
Downpatrick have re-established themselves as authentic championship candidates with a non-surprising crushing of visiting Portaferry at Dunleath Park.
The Ards Peninsula ladies are on their way back down to Division Two, having failed to register a point this season. Credit though must go them for their perseverance, dedication and enthusiasm.
With Kyla Trainor and Charlene Kelly picking up two apiece and Natalie Savage adding another, Downpatrick can look forward to the remainder of the summer with a certain amount of confidence. Granted, they have another couple of tough hurdles to clear, but they are joint pacemakers with Banbridge should be optimistic. The Bridge, meanwhile, inflicted a demoralising 6-2 defeat on Armagh who had goal-scorers in Zoe Martin and Shirley Beattie.
LIMAVADY, another side in serious contention for the division title, never allowed Knockbreda breathing space on the way to a 5-0 cruise. Louise McAllister was the pride of the visitors, helping herself to a hat-trick, whilst Amylee McIvor did well to score twice.
PREMIER DIVISION
The Crues did it at Seaview; the Glens repeated the feat at Billy Neill Fields. Burgeoning victories that reverberated across Belfast have signalled a duel to the death.
Both teams are gearing up for an ‘all or nothing’ showdown that promises to be a spellbinding clash, which is set to take place on Saturday 31 at Seaview. And as the clock ticks away the seconds, the giants of Northern Ireland ladies football fired warning shots across each other’s bow.
Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers crushed Cliftonville 6-0 to stretch their perfect record to eleven games. Not to be outdone Glentoran Belfast United flattened Ballymena All-Stars 5-0; hefty wins that won’t go unnoticed by either camp.
Glens relinquished their crown to Strikers last season, an enforced abdication that will certainly spur them to produce a performance above and beyond the call of duty. There is no doubting they must come up with something special.
Pressure on the Glens is also magnified by the fact that they lost to the Strikers first time around and anything less that victory would surely close their title bid.
The Crues meanwhile continue to demand admiration for their unrelenting run and as struggling Cliftonville yielded a bounty of goals they edged a step closer to retaining their trophy.
The Reds were hit from all directions as six different scorers found the net, a testimony to Crusaders attacking power, Helen McKenna, Terri Harper, Sarah Booth, Lynsay Patterson, Lisa Armour and Debbie McCarthy their happy aces.
Meanwhile Glens BU thrust aside a brittle Ballymena outfit, unable to cope, understandably, with the mightier clout of a more experienced and composed side. Laura Hislop (2), Margaret O’Hanlon, Demi Vance and an o.g. saw the former champs smoothly to the points.
MID Ulster didn’t really take advantage of Ballymena’s suffering and missed the opportunity to close the gap after being held to a 1-1 draw by Newbridge Predators. However they still hug fourth place, two ahead of Linfield who pipped YMCA 1-0. Lisa Richardson was Mid Ulster’s scorer, but an agonising o.g. presented the visitors with their share of the spoils.
YMCA clung onto Linfield in a tight exchange at Ormeau. Anxious to avoid being drawn into a relegation dogfight alongside Newbridge and Cliftonville, the travellers couldn’t find their win they were seeking and Kirsty McGuinness’s goal sent them falling down to the drop zone.
CHAMPIONSHIP
IT’S gone beyond the reach of the rest as Fermanagh Mallards and Loughgall Lakers set up a personal title fight. Both teams had an air of invincibility about them as they leapt nine points clear of their nearest rivals, Dromore Amateurs, who were the helpless victims of the Mallards.
Both sides benefitted from marvellous attacking variations, their energetic, positive play hailing huge wins.
Lakers’ walk in the park came at the expense of Coleraine who bowed to the dominance of their hosts. Rebecca Capper struck twice with Janice Willis, Stacy Hamilton, Claire Rooney and Danielle Brady joining in.
Kerry Taggart, in contention for the section’s top scorer award, picked up another two goals for Dromore Amateurs, but these were small-fry consolations as Mallards shot to a 6-2 victory. Goalscorers popped up all over the place as Louise Thompson, Louise Noble, Felicity Long, Louise McFrederick and Aisling McCaughey found the net.
IN the battle of the minnows bottom-placed Carrick lost to the side above them, Larne Ladies, 3-1. The Rangers’ survival in the division is all but over and I really cannot see them avoiding the drop. Ayesha McFerran, Marion Connolly and Laura Noble threw Larne a sectional lifeline whilst Vicky McMaw enjoyed her moment, scoring for the losers.
IT WAS a case of Moore the merrier at Ormeau as Lauren Moore stole the show. The Donegal Celtic sharpshooter collected a hat-trick in her side’s 4-2 win over St. Matthew’s. Tamsin Strain Celtic’s other markswomen.
DIVISION TWO
BALLYMONEY won at will against a gallant Dungoyne side that beavered hard but wasn’t in the same class. Carla Dickie (2), Sirri Topping (2), Lauren Marshall (2), Sammy-Jo Greer and Alex Shirlow hammered in the home goals.
DIVISION THREE
THERE just is no stopping Nicole Graham. The Valley Rangers scoring machine churned out another four goals as the table toppers thumped Abbey Villa 4-0.
GOOD as they are Rangers must be frustrated by the close attention of stubborn Portadown Integrated who refuse to go away. A 4-0 win over Rossglass County sees the Ports remain three points adrift of the Mourne outfit. They had Jenna McDonnell (2) Aisling McKenna and Claire Taylor to thank for their goals.
CRUMLIN United snapped up a merited victory at Ballynahinch Olympic. The home side played well for a time and maybe deserved another couple of goals, but they were undone by the hits of Anna McBride, Orlagh Mullen and Bronagh Doherty.
KILLYLEAGH halted the PSNI run, playing out a 3-3 draw at The Showgrounds. Aimee Donnan notched a vital brace for the home side with Amy Millar also on target. Leigh Chapman, Kerri McCann and Annalise McKee were the visiting scorers.
DIVISION FOUR
LISBURN nudged aside visiting Moneyslane in a 2-0 victory. Colleen Long and Stacy Murdough fired in the winners.
