Ballyclare Ladies Make Winning Start In The League
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
BALLYCLARE Ladies Hockey Club 1st XI, despite missing key regulars and having injuries, got off to a succesful start in the Senior League when they recorded a 2-0 home win on Saturday against North Down.
They were always in control at Foundry Lane and both J.Cooke and P.McWhirter were able to push forward. As a result they forced three earlt short corners and the same two players had shots go just wide.
The North Down side were missing a couple of players due to the wedding of Karen Mitchell who actually moved to Ballyclare from Comber Club last season.
The home defence were never tested and full-back Danielle Wilson was also able to push forward but it was still 0-0 at half -time. Early in the second half Lynsey Hysop got the opening goal from a short corner. The visitors then had a rare corner which was broken down by Caroline Darragh who set up a counter-attack. The ball was fed to Diane Henry who broke into the circle and beat the goal-keeper as she advanced. This par Ballyclare 2-0 up and North Down never really created any chances to test Vicky Clelland.
Ballyclare did have two further short corners but the visitors defence held out and at the end it was a deserved win for Ballyclare. Considering the several changes in the team this was a good result and a bright star to the league following four very different games in the Winemark Shield.
Ballyclare - V.Clelland, D.Wilson, P.McWhirter, D.Hagan, L.Ashcroft, C.Darragh, A.Cooke, J.Cooke, S.Galbraith, D.Henry, R.Phillips, Lhysop.
This Saturday Ballyclare will play Civil Service at home.
