Debut win for ladies fifths

Last Saturday saw the return of the North Down Ladies fifth eleven.  With new players joining the club and the success of the youth section providing a feeder for girls eligible to play in the senior club North Down are now in the healthy position of fielding five teams again.

The team led by Julie Fisher and Kathy Taylor made their debut in Junior 8 against Queens fifths at The Dub and the mix of experience, youth and a little in between secured 3 points for the Comber girls.

The team had a sound first half with Fisher, Taylor and Jocelyn Sturgeon breaking Queens play in midfield and feeding the forward line of Lynsey Stevenson, Hilary West and Ashleigh Hamilton with some quality balls. It seemed like North Down were destined not to score with the Queens keeper and both goal posts denying efforts from West and Stevenson. The first goal came from a follow up shot from new girl Ashleigh Hamilton and a second goal soon after from West made it 0-2 at halftime.

The start of the second half saw Queens score two goals within the first 3 minutes as the Comber side had not switched on after the break. Composure was required, the defence finally settled and it was game on. After the drama of the first three minutes the second half followed the pattern of the first.  Rachel Quigley playing well at sweeper with some sound tackles allowed keeper Ashleigh Gorman a reasonably quiet game. North Down went ahead again with West placing her shot and getting the better of the formidable Queens keeper. A run of penalty corners led to Taylor cracking a smashing shot against the backboard and the fifths ran out 4-2 winners in their first league match.
Report by Karen Jackson