Junior 9A: Castle 0-4 DLHC 2XI
Donaghadee 2nd XI headed to Carrickfergus on Friday night for their penultimate game of the season against Castle 4s. With the rain coming in as the game got underway, the home team didn’t play down to their bottom of the league position; they were soon on the attack as they sought to avenge their 3-0 loss earlier in the season, requiring a bit of frantic defending early on by the Dee until they settled into their stride. 

With Lisa Higgins and Vicky O’Neill winning lots of ball in central positions in front of the back four, and the left-sided combination of Laura Hamilton and Row Moore making strides up the wing, the Dee’s first big chance came from a familiar move with Molly McKee driving on and making space for a great cross, but her ball evaded her forward partners. The action continued in end to end fashion with both sides creating chances but the defences held firm and it remained scoreless at the quarter end.

With Lauren Niblock and Jordan McWilliams coming on for Q2, the Dee were quickly into their attacking stride, and just two minutes in they took the lead, with Jordan’s powerful straight strike from a penalty corner beating the Castle keeper. The goal settled Dee nerves and they started to dominate play and possession. Another great run down the left wing from Molly saw the ball reach Erin Hamilton on the right, but her shot was well saved.

The reprieve was short-lived, however.  With 5 minutes to half time Jordan picked up the ball on the 23, raced into the circle and fired it high into the net to double the lead with a brilliant individual goal. There was still time for Lisa and Katie McKee to create chances but the Castle defence kept them out and at halftime it was still 2-0.

Vicky and Laura returned to the lineup for the second half, but the personnel changes didn’t faze the Dee, with no let-up in attack. In an uncanny repeat of Q2, a penalty corner in the second minute of Q3 was slotted home by Vicky to make the scoreline 3-0 and the Dee well at truly in the ascendancy. A few minutes later another PC was fired across from right to left but Molly’s shot flew just wide.

When the home side managed rare forays into the Dee’s 23, defenders Floss Patton, Claire Horne, and Natalie Jamieson worked hard to keep it away from keeper Faith McMillen, who was a spectator for much of the match. Vicky, Jordan and Molly continued to create chances but couldn’t add to their tally, and Lauren’s delight at earning her side a PC was short-lived with the decision went against the Dee, meaning the score remained at 3-0 at the end of the third quarter.

Into the final quarter and coach Willie McAdam continued to freshen things up, the high pace was maintained as Vicky and Katie opened up the right, Jordan ran through the middle, and Molly owned the left, but despite lots of pressure the ball refused to go in.  Jordan had a couple of chances to complete her hat trick and Molly was thwarted by both the keeper and the post.

But as time counted down, Molly collected a ball at the top of the circle, switched to her left and scored a fabulous goal with a strong reverse strike to make it 4 and seal not only the victory but also her Star Player award for the match.

All in all it was a superb performance by the whole team and a well deserved win which cements the team’s 4th spot in the league. Thanks go to Nicola Patton for giving up her Friday night to umpire. Next week the 2nds play their final game of a short season; pushback is 1pm at Bangor Grammar against unbeaten league leaders Instonians, and your support would be warmly welcomed. 

The 1XI are in Plate action on Saturday when they travel to the Dub (again!) to play Club KV for the second time in as many weeks, pass back 2.30pm.

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