Comfortable win for ladies seconds

North Down ladies 2nds hosted Raphoe 2nds in Comber on Saturday in Junior League 3 hoping to bounce back from a narrow loss last week.

They started the match with a high intensity passing game, winning a penalty corner right away. Ali Campbell hit out to Megan Murray who fired a straight strike past the Raphoe keeper to give the Comber side an early lead.  North Down played a high press and had the majority of possession with good attacking runs from Caitlyn Adair and Connie Magee on the right creating several scoring opportunities for North Down. One of these attacks was finished superbly by Rhiannon Davies grabbing her first goal for the team. A third goal then came soon after with a great team move forward started by Angelique Toombs in defence who drove the ball forward before Jenna Pliauga unselfishly crossed to Kirsty McCrory to finish.

North Down continued their strong passing game, transfering the ball seamlessly through Megan Spence and Megan Murray in the centre out to Kate McConnell on the left who linked up well with forwards Davies and Pliauga, with Jenna Hoey adding a fourth goal for the hosts when she deftly lifted the ball over the Raphoe keeper into the net.

Despite North Down’s dominant display so far it was Raphoe who scored first in the second half, capitalising on a defensive mistake to get themselves on the scoreboard. North Down continued to press forward as Raphoe tired, with multiple shots on goal from Adair, Pliauga, Murray, Davies and McCrory all saved.

North Down coach Darren Toombs refocused his team for the final quarter and they again enjoyed the majority of possession before Pliauga added the final goal of the game to make the score 5-1 to the hosts.

Burch Autos Player of the Match was Kate McConnell.