Lurgan just too much for ladies
North Down ladies 1st XI welcomed Lurgan to Comber Leisure Centre on Saturday for the next of their Vitality Premier League fixtures hopeful to be able to take points away from this game but it wasn’t to be.
Lurgan started the game well in the first quarter with their fast paced attacks and movement of the ball. North Down soon adapted to this but unfortunately weren’t able to keep the ball out for long before it was 1-0 to Lurgan. Lurgan were then awarded a penalty stroke after the ball allegedly hit a North Down foot on the line of the goal. Kathryn McGregor stepped up ready to save the stroke but the Lurgan player sent it wide of the posts and missed. North Down were then on the attack and determined to come back from being 1-0 down. Minutes before the first quarter whistle went Selina Lewis won a penalty corner and Bethany Burrows got the goal which made it 1-1 at quarter time.
In the second quarter the match stayed quite equal between both sides. North Down were moving the ball well throughout the whole team with Olivia Brown and Lauren Brown controlling the middle of the pitch and forwards Rachel Lucas, Rachael Murphy, Sophie Hoey, Jenna Frazer and Kirsty Boobyer taking their turns making great runs and creating space but unfortunately North Down couldn’t get any outcomes from periods of attacking play. Lurgan were quick on the attack and were able to take a chance well to make it 2-1 before the half time whistle went.
In the third quarter the defensive efforts from Heather Brittain, Bethan Crawford, Alex Boyd, Rachel Mornin, Kerry Watts and Caitlin Taylor were effective in keeping Lurgan out with some crucial tackles being made. However, another unfortunate decision led to another stroke being awarded and this time Lurgan scored it. This set the score at 3-1 leaving North Down a lot of work to do.
The fourth quarter saw another goal scored by Lurgan which took the score line to 4-1. North Down felt hard done by as they didn’t feel the score was a clear reflection of the game but will seek to improve and rebuild on the performance for their next league game next week against Armagh.
Burch Autos Players of the Match were Kerry Watts and Bethany Burrows
