Valentine’s Victory for Ladies 5s

North Down Ladies 5s secured arguably the sweetest Valentine’s treat of the week with a top notch team performance earning 3 points against Dromore currently placed 4th on the league table.

During the first half, a well taken short corner by North Down sparked a goalmouth scramble pressurising the Dromore defense into a critical error. The umpire signalled for a stroke. Up stepped Rebecca Murdock who slotted the ball across the line giving North Down a vital early lead.

Heather Kinnier who had been hunting for a scoring opportunity finally found her moment at the baseline. From an impossibly tight angle, she unleashed a strike that left everyone stunned. What a spectacular finish as the ball seemed to curve round into the goal mouth making the score 2-0.

Despite the two-goal deficit, Dromore launched wave after wave of attacks. However, they found no way past Charlotte Cairns. Her “due diligent” marking was a highlight of the match; she shadowed her attackers with relentless intensity, disrupting their rhythm and breaking down play before it could reach the circle.

In midfield Rachel Bogie provided the tactical exit North Down needed. Her vision allowed the defense to breathe, consistently finding space and working the ball down the line with pinpoint accuracy.

The transition from defense to attack was made possible by Emma Bradshaw playing such a pivotal role in the centre of the pitch creating so many opportunities from her precise passing into the path of Katie Johnston and Beth Cochrane. The duo utilised their youthful energy terrorising the home team’s defence time and time again with the help of speedy Rebecca Ross.

Final score

North Down 2 – Dromore 0

Huge thanks to Keri Portinga for umpiring

Player of the Match: Charlotte Cairns