North Down Ladies’ 1XI Take the Win

Played on a windy day with dull conditions at Instonians home pitch, North Down and the opposition immediately adapted well and maintained a consistent flow throughout the first quarter. The opening quarter saw the first and only goal of the match, giving the game early momentum. North Down came eager, as Gabby Scates sought out Caitlin Taylor, the ball successfully made its way into the back of the net from across the D. A great effort from each member of the team, earning North Down early advantage from the open play.

The second quarter started, with an immediate counter attack by North Down, narrowly missing a crucial chance to have the significant upper hand. Throughout, both teams were evenly matched, with possession shared and neither side able to gain a clear advantage. Play moved end to end, as both teams created opportunities, despite several promising attacks on both sides, neither team could break the deadlock, resulting in a tightly contested and exciting period.

At the half-time whistle, the teams regrouped before the third quarter began. Instonians applied increased pressure early on, earning a number of penalty corners, while North Down was unable to win any during this period. In spite of the sustained pressure, the defence remained composed, with a crucial goal-line save from the Captain, Rachael Murphy,  proving vital in preventing an equaliser and keeping North Down’s lead intact, boosting team morale.

With 2 minutes to discuss tactics, the whistle blew, and the last and final quarter began. The opposition continued to apply a similar level of pressure, spending large periods of play in our defensive half. This resulted in several more penalty corners being awarded to the opposition, while North Down looked to relieve pressure through a few well-timed counterattacks. The defensive unit showed resilience throughout the quarter, with players repeatedly stepping in to block shots during penalty corners, including Gabby Scates making multiple brave stops proving vital to North Down’s 1-0 lead. This determination helped prevent any goals and maintained the advantage until the final whistle.

Overall, it was a thrilling and hard-fought contest. North Down took pride in the early goal, strong defensive resilience, and the composure shown under sustained pressure, gaining 3 points and moving up the table. Player of the Match was awarded to Gabby Scates, whose performance, regardless of an unpleasant injury, proved pivotal in securing a memorable win.