Dines goal secures ladies fourths win!
On Saturday afternoon North Down Ladies fourths hosted Castle thirds at home hoping to secure their first win of the season.
They started the match with nine players pushing forward from the starting whistle. Within the first five minutes of play, Karen Barker and Ruby Bond made a speedy run onto the pitch and settled straight into the game. Karen Barker worked well in midfield making strong and sharp passes to forwards Keziah Dines and Ruby Bond who made quick dashes to the circle. The North forwards dominated Castle’s circle and had numerous strikes on goals which Castle’s keeper and defence team worked well to break down.
Castle were quick on the ball at the start of the second quarter and made a break for North Down’s centre but the defence of Rebecca Murdock, Rachel Cairns, Laura Campbell and Fiona Ellis worked well on breaking down the play and sending some excellent passes up to the forwards. Both teams continued to battle for a goal across the remaining of the quarter with lots of back and forth between each side. The Castle side made another break for the circle with keeper Anna Carvill quick on the mark to clear the ball.
After a goalless half time, the North girls came into the third quarter determined to get the ball past the Castle keeper. Leah Drysdale and Keziah Dines partnered well through the centre of the pitch and it wasn’t long until Dines took on a solo with the keeper and was able to quickly slot the ball past her securing the 1-0 lead to the hosts.
Going into the last quarter Castle came back determined to score the equaliser. A quick break from a free and Castle were dominating North Down’s circle. Defensively the hosts remained strong and despite conceding several short corners, Cairns and Murdock were quick out to clear the danger with Ellis, Campbell and Carvill in behind. The Comber girls continued to fight hard to the final whistle with Ruby Bond making some speedy breaks on the attack.
Overall, this was a super team performance from the home team who worked tirelessly until the final whistle.
Burch Autos Player of the Match was Keziah Dines.