Ladies seconds win at last

On Saturday North Down seconds welcomed Carrick seconds to Nendrum College. The team knew to expect a tough match from previous encounters last season with both teams currently sitting in the middle of the league table and wanting to push further up.

Carrick came out strongly working the midfield and defence but this was short lived as North Down fought back with fantastic linking play up front resulting in many penalty corners being awarded to the home side. A break from the midfield allowed skilful linking play between Natasha Adamson and forward Shannen White, this enabled Shannen to slot the ball neatly into the corner of the goal. This gave the girls confidence to fight harder for the potential first win of the season for the home side. After brilliant linking play between Olivia Brown and Bethan Brittain, the ball again found its way from a strike at the top of the circle by Bethan into the net. The Carrick keeper was very experienced and saved many strikes keeping her team in the game by only being two down at half time.

In the second half the visitors pushed deeper

into the North Down defence but excellent defending skills by Rebecca Brown and Karen Moore kept Carrick from even having one shot on goal. Another break came in the centre with Captain Laura Campbell intercepting a pass between the opposition, Jenna Hoey passing the ball perfectly onto the stick of Bex Mitchell. The strike on goal was saved but Charlotte McKee was on hand for the rebound to put the North Down side further ahead. In the final minute of the match a penalty corner was awarded to North Down which allowed Jenna Hoey to strike the ball straight through the keeper’s pads in what was definitely the best goal of the season thus far.

The match ended 4-0 to North Down which was a well-deserved win for the hardworking side. Thanks to Jo Irwin and Lauren Brown for umpiring.