North Down ladies 5s start season with cheery victory!

North Down Ladies 5s kicked off their season with a bang, welcoming two new players, Rebecca Ross and Lauren King, along with returning star Heather Kinnier. Facing off against Garvey 5s at the Comber Leisure Centre, the home team brought a fantastic, high-energy performance to the pitch.

The opening minutes were filled with excitement as the team’s high-octane play quickly paid off.

A brilliant burst of speed from Erin Gamble down the wing left her opponents in the dust. She then expertly crossed the ball into the circle, where Rebecca Ross was perfectly positioned to pounce, skillfully pushing it over the line to put North Down on the scoreboard. What a debut goal!

North Down kept the pressure on, hungry for more goals. The midfield was a hive of activity, with Olivia Slagter delivering a tireless performance. She was relentless in her pursuit of every ball, intercepting Garvey’s passes and making beautiful, precise plays to her teammates. Emma Johnston was equally impressive, putting in some powerful tackles that repeatedly broke down the opposition’s attacks. While her well-placed passes over the 23 metre line couldn’t quite find a teammate to connect with, her play in the middle of the field and beyond was certainly a game-changer.

The home team’s attacking spirit was on full display as they won several short corners. Ruby Bond’s ejections were spot-on, but despite their best efforts, the girls just couldn’t quite find the back of the net to add to their tally. Still, it was a fantastic, all-around performance that ended with a well-deserved 1-0 victory for North Down. This was a perfect start to the season, filled with promising plays and incredible teamwork. The future looks very bright for the North Down Ladies 5s under the captaincy of Ann McBride and Vice Emma Johnston.

Extremely thankful to Beverley Brittian for umpiring and to manager Cara McConnell.

Player of the match – Rebecca Ross