Ladies seconds go closer to top league
North Down seconds made the short trip to local rivals Civil Service seconds on Saturday looking for a win against the team sitting just below them in a very tight league table.
The match started at a high intensity which continued throughout as both sides played some excellent attacking hockey. North Down had the first chance of the match when Caitlyn Adair at right back played a beautiful long ball over to Ali Campbell on the left who drove forward, finding Megan Murray in the circle who forced an early save from the keeper. Civil soon had a chance of their own at the other end but it was well intercepted by Adair just outside the circle. North Down went on the attack again through Megan Spence in the centre and won a series of penalty corners. The first two were well defended by the home defence before Adair came agonisingly close, hitting the post right at the end of the quarter.
The visitors started strongly in the second quarter with several strong runs from Magee on the right and Orr on the left both providing great service to the attacking line. The goal finally came when Ali Campbell beat three defenders outside the circle before slipping the ball forward to Jenna Pliauga who didn’t hesitate to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.
The third quarter was a very tense affair with Civil Service captain Anna Crooks receiving a green card for a stick tackle on Rhiannon Davies just as she was about to reach the circle. However North Down failed to capitalise on the player advantage and the score remained 1-0 going into the final quarter.
Service came out strongly in the final quarter with some excellent play in midfield but were unable to connect the final pass thanks to some inch perfect tackles from Karen Moore and Angelique Toombs in defence. Against the run of play, North Down went on the attack with Orr finding Davies in the circle who unselfishly crossed to Pliauga who made the score 2-0. Civil continued to press hard but some key interceptions from Murray and Spence in midfield kept them at bay. The hosts won two penalty corners right at the death but they were well dealt with by Magee as first runner and Barthe McCormick in goal and the game finished 2-0 to the visitors, a win which takes the Comber side near the top of the league table heading into the business end of the season.
Burch Autos Player of the Match for the second week running was Megan Murray.
