Fifths scoreless at Ards fourths

On Saturday North Down Ladies 5ths made the trip to play Ards fourths at Londonderry Park.

It was great to welcome a number of young girls, most of whom have just turned 15, to their first league match and they all certainly had a great first match – Zara Steele, Lucy Kay, Amy Magee, Charlotte Cairns and Emily Buda.

North Down had a squad of 13 which meant they were able to rotate players, which was just as well as they ended up with a few minor injuries.

It was a great game with the defence of Linda Marshall, Amy Magee, Maxine Taylor, Ann McBride, Bev Brittain and Chalotte Cairns all being called upon to make well timed tackles to keep the very fast Ards forwards from scoring. Ards did have a goal disallowed but agreed reluctantly that it had hit their feet before scoring. However, it was good to see later on when asked by the Ards umpire if she had touched the ball another Ards player agreed it should be our hit out and not their long corner.

North Down changed tactics with only had two forwards up front, rotating Ruby Bond, Emily and Zara, and put Lucy into midfield to have four midfielders to try and stop the Ards bombardment and it worked. The midfield of Caroline Boot, Lucy, Laura Murray and Emma Johnston worked tirelessly and took some of the pressure off our defence – Ards nearly scored in the last couple of minutes but Linda Marshall kept her cool and kicked the ball away.

What was so encouraging was that all the younger ladies playing their first match, listened to any advice and acted upon it and all gave a hundred per cent.

Final score was nil, nil.

Burch Autos Player of the Match was Charlotte Cairns