Traditionally when Donaghadee LHC and Mossley meet, the games are tight, well contested affairs, and this season has been no different. Back in October when Mossley came to the Dee, there was nothing to split the teams with a 0-0 scoreline recorded. Donaghadee travelled to The Glade in Newtownabbey, home of the new Mossley astroturf pitch, last Friday night to fulfil the latest league fixture.

Although the league table doesn’t lie, with Mossley 4th in the league and Donaghadee down in 8th, supporters of the Dee will know that the performances have improved considerably in recent weeks, and it will only take one win to give the girls in red the confidence boost they need to go on and start matching the results to the performances.

On a frosty, clear night the match got underway with Mossley electing to take the pass back. This got them on the front foot straight away and they set about the game with some purpose. Donaghadee were in no mood to roll over however, and matched them every pass, with a lot of the play happening down the Dee’s left where, building from Natasha Cameron at the back, through Katie Donnelly in midfield and up to Ruth Kennedy out on the wing, Donaghadee certainly threatened the Mossley circle on several occasions, with the chances going begging. Just before half time, Mossley managed to sneak a shot away after some pressure of their own, and they went in to the break 1-0 to the good.

Donaghadee were caught short at the back early in the second half and the home forwards made no mistake – 2-0 to the home side. Donaghadee had been pressing with a high line all match and, led by the tireless centre forward Kerrie Turtle, forced the home side into a mistake at the back. From a hit out, the defender passed straight to right wing Carolyn Scott and, with only the keeper to beat, the captain did just that. 2-1 and everything to play for. The Dee were looking very assured at the back, with keeper Teegan Greer making a couple of excellent saves, Jen McVeigh having a great game clearing everything that came near her, the classy Nina Wells reading everything superbly and the unflappable Suzie Ferguson clearing the lines with the minimum of fuss, and it was this platform which allowed the midfielders Katie, Ali Lawther and Carmen van der Schyff to feed the forwards. Johneen Palmer and goalscorer of the previous week, Hannah McAdam came on in the second half to freshen things up, and they played their part, with Hannah having a good chance at a penalty corner. The Dee could have levelled things when Ali crashed a ball in to the circle which was deflected high by Carolyn, but unfortunately she got too much on it and the ball spun high and wide for a Mossley hit out.

It was to prove a costly miss as, with the clock ticking down and showing under two minutes remaining, Mossley got a swift break and made no mistake with the final ball, making the final score 3-1 to Mossley. Thanks again to Mike Smyth for umpiring. The Dee are on their travels again this week as they head to Belfast to play Cooke in the league – for up to date match info and everything else on the club please visit http://www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk or http://www.facebook.com/donaghadeelhc