DLHC 1XI Bus Trip to Newry Back (l-r) Amy Long, Caitland Crockett, Sarah Harkness, Nicola Patton, Ali Lawther, Siobhan McAdam, Carolyn Scott, Emily Morris, Kerry Kennedy Front: Kerrie Turtle, Georgia Ferguson, Lisa Higgins

Senior 3: Newry 0-4 Donaghadee LHC 1XI
There’s little that gladdens the heart more than a hockey bus trip, a feeling which is only made better by a win at the far end, so DLHC’s 1XI were in great form by the end of Saturday night after the away fixture against Newry.

There was a bit of mixing and matching for captain Amy Long with 4 regulars unavailable in the run up to Saturday’s match. In a team very short on defenders, midfielder Ali Lawther dropped back to central defence and forward Carolyn Scott slotted in to a defensive midfield role with Georgia Ferguson earning a call up to the Firsts.

Newry have found results very hard to come by this season but there was little sign of it in the opening stages – plenty of attacking play for the home side tested the makeshift Dee defence with Ali stepping forward to make several well timed interceptions. Indeed the early stages were when Donaghadee keeper Siobhan McAdam was under the most pressure, and she responded in her usual calm manner to clear the danger.

Up at the other end of the pitch, Donaghadee certainly weren’t lacking in fire power, with Kerrie Turtle, Caitland Crockett and Sarah Harkness leading the line, and it was Caitland who opened the scoring before half time with a fine individual goal. She added to her tally moments later to give Donaghadee a two goal advantage before a defence-splitting pass from Kerry Kennedy put Sarah through one on one with the Newry keeper, with the inevitable outcome: 3-0 to the Dee and very little way back for the home side.

There was plenty of industry from Lisa Higgins and Emily Morris in the build up to Donaghadee’s fourth goal, with the two players linking well on the left to set up Kerrie T, who finished cutely with a reverse stick effort to round off the scoring for the Dee. Final score 4-0 to Donaghadee. Thanks to Nicola Patton for umpiring, to Ian’s School of Motoring for the minibus and to the Frisky Bear in Holywood for the hospitality.

The 1XI are next in action in the 3rd round of the Intermediate Cup, away to Randalstown 3XI on Saturday, pass back 1pm at the Antrim Forum. The 2XI are at home to South Antrim 2XI, pass back 1pm.