Single goal secures Shield win for ladies seconds
North Down ladies seconds hosted Queens thirds in the first round of the McConnell Shield on Saturday in Comber.
After two disappointing defeats in their opening league games the home side were locked in from the first whistle, going straight on the attack and pinning the visitors back with Hollie Davies and Sophie Hoey both forcing the Queens keeper to make some early saves. Despite this period of pressure, the Comber side could not get on the scoreboard and Queens soon found their footing with an attack of their own but it was calmly dealt with by North Down keeper Barthe McCormick. This was a sign of things to come as the teams traded chances with neither able to finish in the circle.
North Down’s best effort came in the second quarter with Angelique Toombs forcing another big save from the Queen’s keeper with a penalty corner strike. The home side were moving the ball well around the back with Andrea Mockford switching the play smoothly from left to right and Sophie Leckie working tirelessly in midfield to provide service to forwards Faye McCann, Emily Johnston and Sophie Hoey. Despite several close calls the match was scoreless at halftime.
North Down tried a more direct approach in the third quarter with Judith Orr firing several balls into the circle with deadly precision but again the hosts couldn’t quite finish it off. The breakthrough finally came when sisters Jenna and Jasmine Frazer combined on the right before Jasmine drove along the baseline and pulled the ball back to McCann in the circle who fired home to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. North Down attacked again instantly with Hoey unlucky to shoot wide after going one on one with the Queens keeper.
The final quarter was end to end with Orr making some crucial clearances in the North Down circle before Rhiannon Davies in left midfield launched several attacks of her own on the opposition circle. The hosts were able to exert another period of sustained pressure on the Queens circle when the visitors received two green cards in quick succession but some strong tacking saved them from conceding. North Down managed the final few minutes well to see the game out and secure a very well deserved first win of the season.
Burch Autos Player of the Match was Sophie Leckie.
