Sophie’s goal seals win!

North Down seconds hosted a strong CIYMS seconds team in Comber on Saturday and were looking to pick up valuable 3 points in a very tight league.

The hosts started strongly, immediately attacking the CI circle with Sophie Hoey and Rhiannon Davies linking up well to create some early scoring opportunities. A penalty corner was won and well struck by Jenna Pliauga but saved by the CI keeper. North won another corner but Davies shot was also saved.

CI made several quick breaks and had the clearest chance of the match so far when a scuffle in the goal was smothered by goalkeeper Barthe McCormick and cleared by defender Karen Moore.

The first half continued in this fashion, with North Down pressing hard in attack. Midfielders Kate McConnell and Judith Orr intercepted several CI clearances to feed the ball forward to the attacking line but the CI keeper kept them in the game.

At the other end, the visitors also had their chances but they were snuffed out by some solid tackling from centre back Angelique Toombs. The first half ended 0-0 with the hosts frustrated not to be leading.

Encouraging words and some positional changes from North Down coach Darren Toombs saw his side again attacking from the outset with Kirsty Boobyer and Jenna Frazer joining the forward line and putting more pressure on the visitors. Caitlyn Adair and Connie Magee linked up well on the right and Sophie Hoey continued to terrorise the CI defence with weaving runs around the edge of the circle, making some excellent crosses for Davies, Frazer and Boobyer but still the hosts could not score.

Going into the final quarter the visitors seemed to sit back and be playing for the draw but North Down were determined to go for the win. With CI in attack, the final ball was intercepted by Ali Campbell on the left who drove towards the CI circle and threaded the ball through to Sophie Hoey who fired it into the back of the net to give North Down the winning goal.

Burch Autos Player of the Match was Sophie Hoey.