Senior League 4: Donaghadee LHC 1st XI v Ballynahinch L3-1
Donaghadee LHC 1st XI’s last league match of the 13/14 season took place on Saturday when Ballynahinch came to Bangor Grammar. Following on from the superb performance against Cooke a couple of weeks ago, Donaghadee started this game really strongly, with the forwards Kerrie Turtle, Ruth Kennedy, Jill Dennison and Carolyn Scott having several good chances in the visitors’ circle which they were unlucky not to make count; even scoring the first goal of the match which was unfortunately disallowed after a transgression in the build up was spotted by the Ballynahinch umpire. Ballynahinch somehow weathered the initial storm and against the run of play took a 1-0 lead. Donaghadee continued to press in search of the equaliser, but the half time whistle went before any further score was added.
The start of the second half was in much the same vein with Donaghadee working their opposing defence harder. With a penalty corner awarded, Donaghadee felt the initial shot was blocked on the line by a Ballynahinch leg with the ball then seeming to rebound out against a Hinch foot. With no whistle forthcoming, the Dee played on and were rewarded for their persistence with the ball hitting the backboard to make the score one apiece. With both teams heading back to the halfway line for the restart, the Ballynahinch umpire blew for a Donaghadee indiscretion spotted from his vantage point near the halfway line and the equaliser was ruled out.
With Donaghadee seeking clarification as to why the goal was disallowed, the decision switched from a restart to a Ballynahinch hit out and, with Donaghadee still trying to regroup, the visitors took their chance to make it 2-0. Donaghadee fought valiantly to get themselves back into the match with Carolyn winning the first in a series of penalty corners after she was body checked inside the attacking 25. Ballynahinch were kept ahead by their goalkeeper who made a number of saves to thwart the Dee. With Donaghadee’s defence of Captain Suzanne Ferguson and Claire Stewart limiting Ballynahinch to one clear shot at keeper Siobhan McAdam, the midfield of Katie, Kerry S and Leona Wells were making good inroads in the middle of the pitch. With the match in its dying stages, Ballynahinch were awarded another penalty corner from which they scored, before Donaghadee finally got themselves on the score sheet thanks to sheer dogged determination from Jill at close quarters. With the league now out of the way, the Firsts are now very much looking forward to their Quarter Final Plate match away to Civil Service Seconds on Saturday.
Junior League 9: South Antrim 2nd XI v Donaghadee LHC 2nd XI L2-1
At half time Donaghadee changed the defensive formation in order to try and combat the South Antrim forwards. Amy Long, Natasha Paxton and Alex McVeigh worked well together with Hannah McAdam moving to sweeper to protect Lisa in goal. Buoyed by the new formation and with the change in defence working well, the Dee stepped up their play in the second half and began to be rewarded for their efforts. Top goal scorer for the 2nd XI Maura managed another goal to add to her tally to make the score at full time 2-1 to South Antrim.
Thanks to Willie McAdam umpiring and thanks to South Antrim for tea and buns after the match from their bun sale. The 2nd XI’s next match is on 15th March at home to Coleraine.
