Ladies back on the winning trail
North Down ladies entertained league rivals Omagh at Comber Leisure Centre on Saturday after their first league defeat of the season the previous weekend.
During the first quarter North Down had a shaky start with some lack of control and stray passes allowing Omagh attacking opportunities. Into the second quarter North Down started to settle into the match and managed to break the Omagh press, making some dangerous attacking play from Bethany Burrows, Olivia Brown and Selina Lewis in midfield. It was a frustrating second quarter with the home side winning many frees and a number of claims for penalty corners which were denied. After some show stopper saves from Barthe McCormick and wonderful defence efforts from Bethan Crawford, Alex Boyd, Rachel Mornin, Heather Brittain and Kerry Watts the game was 0-0 at half time.
Shortly into the third quarter North Down won a penalty corner, a wonderful shot from Brittain found Rachael Murphy’s stick for a deflection into the top of the net. North Down’s second goal followed a series of counter attacking plays from Lauren Brown and Selina Lewis. Lewis played a wonderful ball across the circle which met the stick of Olivia Brown who darted in front of her player and slotted the ball into the back corner of the net.
During the final quarter North Down continued to grow in confidence with lovely attacking play. A shot on target was saved well by the Omagh keeper however Selina Lewis pounced onto the rebound and fired the ball into the bottom corner. As Omagh seemed to tire Sophie Hoey, Lauren Brown and Jenna Hoey continued to create attacking opportunities leading to more penalty corners. Two beautiful routine corner plays were scored in succession with a rocket of a shot from Heather Brittain almost splitting the back board and her sister Bethan Crawford calmly slotting another in from the back post. The North Down girls saw the game out with composure across the pitch and can go forward with confidence to their Senior Cup second round game this Saturday against Bangor after a professional performance.
Burch Autos Player of the Match was Heather Brittain.
