Ladies thirds exit Junior Cup

With the previous week’s game having been called off due to bad weather North Down thirds were raring to go against Ards fourths in the quarter final of the Junior Cup.

As the rain poured down at Nendrum College North Down got under way with a very solid start.  Sisters Natalie Strain and Naomi Mitchell applied great pressure on the Ards defense with excellent passing and running and Ards played the majority of the first half down their left side pressuring left back Keri Portinga and sweeper Rebecca Nield. North Down’s defense was solid throughout the first half with clear calling from goalkeeper Linda Marshall and they kept it tight until the end of the first half, clearing every ball entering the circle and attacking the Ards circle as much as possible.

The play at the start of the second half was even with both North Down and Ards having their fair share of play in the attacking circles. Ards had a number of penalty corners throughout the second half but they were all solidly cleared by the defensive line. Rachel Murray, Beth Murray and Heather Kinnier all tried their best to win something in the Ards circle but their keeper and sweeper read the play extremely well. With two minutes to go Ards won one last penalty corner and scored the winner with a deflection off a defenders stick.

Player of the Match – Keri Portinga