Senior 3: DLHC 1XI 4-2 Holywood
Holywood were the visitors to Bangor Grammar on Saturday in round two of the Senior 3 league programme, and with both they and Donaghadee 1XI having won the previous week, this had plenty of potential to be an entertaining game.

And so it proved, with both teams playing at a furious pace right from the first whistle. Both midfields were distributing well and breaking up play, with Donaghadee’s Hannah Younge, Helen Hooks and Jess Moore all working hard to protect the Dee defence and get the forwards in to the game.

 Donaghadee probably shaded it in terms of early chances and it was the home side who took the lead shortly before the end of the first quarter when Leanna McGimpsey-Young scored to give the Dee a cushion going in to the first break.

Quarter two was only a couple of minutes old when the visitors won a penalty corner, and with the ball only being partially cleared, it allowed Holywood’s central defender to smash the ball home for the equaliser.

The penalty corner theme continued as Donaghadee built on their preseason success at corners with Carolyn Scott playing the ball back to Jess who coolly turned the ball home at the back post to reinstate the Dee lead after 25 minutes.

Four minutes later and another penalty corner saw a similar move almost come off but as the ball was cleared it fell to Hannah at the top of the circle and she connected cleanly to give Donaghadee a 3-1 lead.

The third quarter was played mainly outside the circles, with few clear chances thanks to some sterling work from Donaghadee’s excellent defence: Kathy Lawton with some super interceptions on the right and Row Moore and Rachel McClatchey combining on the left, while captain Jodie Ingham marshalled the troops well from the heart of defence.

With both teams trading play in the middle third of the pitch, Holywood made a break through the centre to fire past Faith McMillen in Donaghadee’s net to reduce the deficit to a single goal.

Into the final quarter and the home side once again picked up the pace with the team working from deep to create chances; centre back Kathryn Cunningham intercepted at the top of Donaghadee’s circle and then just kept going, stopping only when she got to the heady heights of the halfway line where she was able to pass the ball on to Jordan McWilliams (much more used to being in the attacking half of the pitch) who was able to set up another attacking opportunity.

Donaghadee continued to probe; Kerry Kennedy pulling strings in midfield as the Dee tried to find that extra impetus to increase their lead then as the hour mark approached, they did just that: a spin and shot from Leanna looped up and over the keeper to make it 4-2.

For the final ten minutes Donaghadee kept much of the ball, and broke down well when the visitors tried to get forward to ensure that the two-goal advantage was maintained, with 4-2 the final score in a breathless, end-to-end and hugely entertaining game from both sides.

Hannah Younge was voted Star Player for her hard work and she thanked Mike Smyth for umpiring and Ards Fireplaces for sponsoring the 1XI’s match ball. Next up for the Firsts is a trip to Club KV on Saturday, pass back at the Dub is at 2.30pm.

Junior League 10: DLHC 2XI 1-1 Saintfield
Donaghadee 2s welcomed Saintfield 4s to Bangor Grammar on Saturday afternoon for their first home game of the season.

Donaghadee started quickly and a fast-paced and very open game saw both sides move the ball from end to end in what began as a very open game.

Up front Dawn McDonald and Kerrie Turtle worked hard to get near the visitors goal, ably supported by Vicky O’Neill with Erin Hamilton and Ruth Coulter driving down the flanks from midfield. Clear chances were hard to come by but Dawn broke through the defence only to have her shot saved.

At the other end Saintfield attacked but sterling work from Caroline Davison in the defensive midfield berth and the back four of Floss Patton, Claire Horne, Suzie Ferguson and Laura Hamilton fought to keep them away from Janice McVeigh in goal.

The second quarter saw much of the same, with Lauren Niblock and Johneena Brown joining the fray to give Donaghadee fresh legs: both Dawn and Kerrie had shots saved and the visitors were thwarted by a great save from Janice so as half time arrived it was still scoreless.

Into the third quarter and the Dee raced forward looking to break the deadlock, but early attempts on target were saved and just as it looked like they were getting the upper hand a quick counter by the visitors saw a shot fired high into the Dee net, somewhat against the run of play to give Saintfield a 1-0 lead.

The home side didn’t let this get them down and with Dawn racing into the circle, a neat pass was slipped to Kerrie lurking at the back post and she fired home the equaliser.

Into the final quarter and the visitors were hanging on bravely but despite a number of attempts Donaghadee just couldn’t get the ball in the net to clinch a late winner, leaving an entertaining game all square at 1-1.

Well done to Dawn for her Player of the Match performance, with thanks to Row Moore for umpiring and to Elevate Storage Solutions for sponsoring the match ball.

The next match for the 2XI is away to Pegasus on Saturday, pass back at Newforge at 12.45pm.

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