Ballyclare Ladies enjoy winning weekend
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
BALLYCLARE Ladies 2nd XI completed a Junior League double over their Portadown counterparts at the weekend at Foundry Lane.
Joanne Cooke was the local heroine when she bagged the brace that gave her side a 2-1 win, that maintained their top half position in Section 2.
Janice Wilson's girls started confidently, having won the corresponding encounter in Portadown 3-0, but the visiting goalie dealt competently with early efforts by Nicole McConnell and Jamie-Leigh Wilkin.
With the Cookes - Joanne and Julie - prominent in midfield, Ballyclare had territorial advantage, and were well worth the opening goal scored by Joanne, following a penalty corner routine involving Julie and Laura Radcliffe.
The visitors were confined to sporadic counterattacks, but with Gillian McMaw in sterling form at the back, Sara Coulter in the home goal was not seriously tested.
Laura Gilbert and Janice Wilson also had to make important clearances, but eventually the county Armagh girls drew level from a penalty corner.
Approaching the interval Joanne Cooke got the all important winner, after Laura Radcliffe's initial effort had been blocked by a defender.
During the second session Portadown played with renewed vigour, forcing the home side to reinforce their defensive cover by pulling Caroline Darragh back from midfield. This ploy worked successfully, and gradually Ballyclare began to mount a few attacks in which Lauren Curley and Aimee Teggart figured prominently.
However Portadown, finishing stronger, had the 'Clare defence stretched several times in the final stages, but they held out to maintain their mid table position in the league table, while Portadown's relegation worries intensified.
Ballyclare Ladies II panel: S. Coulter, G. McMaw, L. McCracken, J. Wilson (C), L. Gilbert, Joanne Cooke, Julie Cooke, J-L. Wilkin, L. Curley, N. McConnell, C. Darragh, A. Terrett, L. Radcliffe.
This weekend the 2nd XI have a league fixture in Belfast against Belfast Harlequins III.
The seniors were scheduled to be in Cookstown for a Senior Plate match, but the game was postponed owing to parts of the playing surface being frost-bound, and this one is likely to be rearranged for this weekend.
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