Knockbreda Ladies 4, North Down Ladies 2
Ladies Football on way
Back to Bangor
After a football drought of five years, the borough of North Down were represented in the Northern Ireland’s Womens F.A - when North Down Ladies kicked off their 2006 season at Knockbreda Ladies in an Intermediate B Divisional Match. North Down Star were the last club to feature in the League when they competed in the First Division back in 2001.
With the Ards Peninsula saturated with ladies clubs, Bangor's status got stamped firmly back on the map of ladies football when North Down Ladies took to the field in
Knockbreda on Wednesday evening - in their first ever senior competitive fixture - a tough opener, up the Upper Ballygowan Road, away to a what proved to be a very lively
Knockbreda outfit - under the management of Ernie Larkin - who had a strong Championship winning Linfield Ladies connection last season - and this was evident in his starting line-up, with plenty of experience and young talent lining up for the locals.
North Down Ladies - travelled arguably understrength - with work, injuries commitments leading to the withdrawal of some regulars, but the Bangor based side left the Valentines looking forward to the start of what promises to be a big and exciting year for the development of ladies
football in the Borough.
Joanna Williamson, came on in the second half
Squad: Peggy Matthews, Paula Dougherty, Christine Morrison, Alanna Kerr, Julie Graham; Christina McNamara, Lisa Mahood, Cathy Duncan, Carolyn Scott; Tanya Black and Kim Dockery. Subs: Joanna Williamson and Susan Cull.
In was evident from the start it was going to be a lively and pressure-cooker match - tackles flying in - lots of pace - and a lot of action in the midfield dust - Mahood and Duncan were in for a tough evening - and both rose to the occasion with some strong tackles - forward passing and very decisive play and neat football - erly on Mahood slipped a clever ball through, Dockery playing up front with Tanya Black managed one touch then rattled in the opener after 11 minutes.
The response was immediate and although the young Knockbreda side were busy, Duncan and Mahood were starting to win the battle in midfield - and the wide players McNamara and Scott, getting behind the Knockbreda defence, who were diving in. allowing the visitors to get beyond them - it was Dockery again who hit a strong drive and the ball ricocheted between defender and goalkeeper - before McNamara following up - got the final touch and
bravely slammed it home to double the visitors dvantage after 18 minutes.
At this point, only the most partisan of travelling support could believe that this game was over - far from it - as both teams attacking with pace and the football at times superb - the chances were falling at both ends - again Dockery put through by Lisa Mahood had another chance to increase the deficit - but blasted wide from close in.
The agony continued as Knockbreda who were attacking in numbers and storming through the back line, a good ball lashed across the 18 yards box, saw Matthews manage to parry but the home strikers followed it up with a neat finish to take to 2-1.
Next League match is on May 2nd v. PSNI at home, Clandeboye Park, Bangor F.C.
It was classic end to end stuff at this point and a great game - Knockbreda’s front pairing had all the pace and were threatening everytime they got the ball to feet - Graham, Kerr, Morrison and Dougherty refusing to give anything up and were hanging on resolutely - half time approaching - but as North Down knocked on the door, neat play saw Duncan burst through at one end of the pitch, the ball was knocked away up the other end for the chase - again Matthews had no chance 2-2 half time.
A blow for the visitors at half time was the withdrawal
of the influential Dougherty at right back, and with Kerr and Duncan struggling having taken nasty knocks it was backs to the wall time although the instructions were - to keep the tempo up as North Down were certainly still in the game and with both teams cancelling each other out and it was very nicely poised for the second half.
With the enforced shuffle of Graham to right back, Joanna Williamson came on the left and with only one substitute on the bench - Kerr clearly struggling it was an all - or nothing gamble.
With Knockbreda unchanged and keeping up the tempo - North Down responded - Duncan hit a superb ball out right for McNamara who lashed it across for the strong running Mahood who just failed to get a good connection and the goalkeeper gathered, at the back though Morrison was next to go down.
Lisa Mahood and Carolyn Scott in midfield
With 20 minutes to go - the game still poised at 2-2 - a body blow - Duncan who despite suffering with a dead leg,
finally had to come off - and with Kerr still soldiering on - the momentum seemed to swing to the home side - and sensing North Down were on the ropes - Knockbreda went for the kill.
Both Graham and Williamson both responded well and with Morrison and Kerr in particular refusing to buckle for a 10 minute spell - it looked as of the visitors were going to hold out for a point.
But, a corner on the left, cleverly swung in right under the crossbar put paid to that thought, Matthews, who was revelling in the challenge, under pressure would only parry and from the resulting melee Knockbreda stabbed home to snatch the lead.
North Down bravely tried to lift it for a last effort and Dockery almost managed it - which a volley from 20 yards as the game went into the final 5 minutes.
With the visitors hopes fading with the light Knockbreda again from an inswinging corner added a fourth and killer blow to take 3 points.
Overall a very entertaining game of football, with Knockbreda certainly giving a very good account of themselves and it would be unfair to say that on the night - they did not deserved to come away with the spoils - North Down Ladies were not disappointed with their input which was creditable in difficult
circumstances - and will come through this one a far
better side than they had started the game - taking away a lot from the pace and tempo of the fixture.
Best on the night was Peggy Matthews who showed great courage and pulled off two outstanding stops late in the match - one in particular brought applause from both camps. Good performances from Kerr, carrying that injury, Graham and Williamson in defence, and McNamara on the right
Although not a wining start to what will be an enthralling season for the Bangor club, it was a very encouraging one with a lot of positives for the club to take away as they prepare for their next game - a massive home game against PSNI on Tuesday evening (2nd), at Clandeboye Park, Bangor.
Other results saw wins for Larne Ladies, with a 8-0 scoreline over Wellington, while Carrick Rangers took the points with a win at PSNI and Ards Raiders recording a 2-1 win to round up the first week in the Intermediate B Division.
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Last Edited Guest on 2-May-2006 2:32 AM
