Super show from Lynsey

North Down ladies fourths travelled to Harlequins fourths on Saturday for a Junior Four league game.

North Down began well, winning a corner in the first ten minutes. Lynsey Stevenson injected to Jo Irwin whose on target strike rebounded off the keeper’s pads to Rachel Bogie.  Her strike was again saved by quick reactions from the keeper however, Lynsey Stevenson made no mistake with a third shot to make it 1-0.  Quins were fast on the attack but expert tackling from sweeper Maxine Taylor, backed up by a solid defence kept the frustrated Quins at bay.

An excellent one two between Irwin and Stevenson on the right set Hilary West free and her pass found Stevenson who added a second. At this point Quins changed their formation and sent on their more experienced players and put North Down under some pressure.  They produced some excellent attacking play on their left with the winger managing to get along the backline and slip the ball across for a conversion making the score at half time 1-2.

Harlequins’ frustrations continued into the second half due to some tight marking from midfielders Emma Johnston and Rebecca Martin and the home team lost some discipline becoming very physical and verbal.  On 49 minutes the Harlequins pressure finally told as they notched an equaliser and with North Down looking unsettled the game could have gone either way. Stevenson was to the fore back in defence as she came to the rescue time after time with clearing tackles at the edge of the North Down circle. With only two minutes to go she managed to produce a break down the right and crack the ball across the circle where Rachel Bogie connected first time and the ball flew through the keeper’s legs for the winner.  In the last minute Quins tried their best but the visitors held out for a great win.

PMB Player of the Match:  Lynsey Stevenson

Report from Beverley Brittain.