Senior League 3: DLHC 1XI 9-0 Parkview
Donaghadee 1st XI welcomed Parkview LHC to Bangor Grammar on a very pleasant Saturday afternoon last weekend as the league programme enters the final few weeks of the season. 

Plagued by injuries and unavailable players, it has been brilliant to see many of the 2XI very comfortably striding out for the Firsts in recent matches and it was no different this week.The match got underway with the defensive unit pushing the team forward from the outset, which created a very attacking formation. 

Helen Herron got the ball rolling with an assertive attack down the left feeding a lovely pass to Leanna McGimpsey-Young who took no time to hammer the ball home. The midfield play – supported by the defence – was quick and accurate, with the balls being fed to the forward line in quick succession.

Leanna, who was in excellent form, had two further shots with a return of two further goals. 15 minutes in and the Dee were 3-0 up and looking good. The second quarter began very much as the first ended, with relentless pressure on the Parkview defence, created mainly by Leanna, Kerrie Turtle and Natasha McGimpsey. 

Although Parkview were creating some attacking play of their own, the Dee defensive unit of Claire Stewart, Jan Morrow, Row Moore/Natalie Jamison and Paige Reilly had this easily handled before they got to the Donaghadee defensive 25, turning the ball over and feeding the midfield to attack again. 

Leanna, being fed some lovely through balls, again made no mistake when shooting, putting the ball past the keeper another two times. The relentless attack on the Parkview goal continued; Kerry Kennedy’s turn this time, with a top of the circle strike which rebounded off a Parkview stick to make it 6-0 at the end of the second quarter. 

The third and fourth quarters were played in similar fashion, with Kerrie Turtle scoring a fantastic goal at the left post to make it 7-0. The whole team were also really getting behind Leanna and her scoring momentum, with balls continuing to flow forward as Doaghadee continued their forward momentum.

Leanna finished the fourth quarter with another two goals to make a personal record for her, scoring 7 goals, and a club record with the final score 9-0 to Donaghadee! Although this was a day for Leanna, it was also an all round great performance for this squad. Thanks to Caroline Davison, Erin Hamilton and Emma McGimpsey-Young who were brilliant supporting the team, having already played a match for the 2XI earlier in the day. Sincere thanks also to Mike Smyth and Janice McVeigh for umpiring.

The 2XI were unlucky to go down 3-1 to a strong Randalstown earlier in the day. The 1XI have no match this coming weekend, but the 2XI are in action away to NICS, pass back at Stormont the 4pm slot on the water-based pitch.