Senior 2: Rainey 4-0 DLHC 1XI
After last week’s closely fought, and ultimately victorious Intermediate Cup match it was a return to league action for DLHC’s 1XI as they travelled to Magherafelt to play Rainey.

Donaghadee came out of the blocks and were quickly on the attack when Jordan McWilliams hammered a shot that smashed off the post and bounced clear in a big early let-off for the home side. With much of the play coming down the left side, Rachelle Pearson and Hannah Younge were creating a lot of space with brilliant link-up play between backs and forwards and one such move carved open the home defence, with Carolyn Scott running on to the through ball, only for her shot to go wide of the right post.

Rainey began to gain more of a foothold and they countered with blistering pace through the centre, the resulting strike from the edge of the D was forced wide enough by Donaghadee keeper Faith McMillen getting her angles right, with that shot also hitting the post. Despite then conceding the first penalty corner of the game, Donaghadee were able to clear to safety and the quarter finished scoreless.

Quarter two started in similar vein, with both teams creating attacking opportunities but there were few clear chances until the home side won a penalty corner and a well worked routine saw them break the deadlock. Buoyed by the goal, Rainey lifted the pace and just over a minute later a second strike saw them double their lead. Donaghadee pressed hard to respond, forcing a brilliant save from the home keeper as they looked to halve the deficit.

Into the second half and Rainey were straight back on the attack, switching the ball quickly up front but strong tackling from Paige Reilly in the centre of defence got the ball clear. At the other end, a promising Donaghadee attack broke down in the home 23 and a quick interchange between the Rainey midfield and forwards created a break into the circle, shot and goal to make it 3-0 just a couple of minutes after halftime. 

The home team then really began to dominate possession in the third quarter with Donaghadee forced back, defending deeper and as a result struggling to get the ball to the forwards, but excellent defensive play by Jan Burgess and Kathryn Cunningham restricted the hosts with a number of penalty corners being very well defended. 

In midfield the sterling work of Helen Herron, Jess Moore and Ellen Campbell meant that Donaghadee started to fight back in the final quarter, with a good break in the third minute seeing Jordan beat the keeper only for her shot to slide just wide. A penalty corner resulted in a great strike from Leanna McGimpsey-Young which saved by the keeper, with the follow up shot also being beaten away. 

With minutes remaining Chloe Gault came on to freshen things up and she chased back well to bolster the defensive effort. Then, with less than ten seconds remaining Rainey won another penalty corner and it was successfully converted to make the final score 4-0; a well deserved win for the hosts, but a somewhat harsh score line for a Donaghadee side that showed heart and fought until the final whistle and who, on another day could well have come away with something from the game.

There is a break in action next weekend, with the 1XI back in action on Saturday 8^th November at home to CI, pass back 1pm.

1XI Sponsor Shoutouts
We are delighted that the following players from Saturday’s match are being individually sponsored. If you would like to sponsor your favourite player, please speak to them directly or email us at dlhc@hotmail.co.uk. View all sponsored players here

Junior 10: South Antrim 2-2 DLHC 2XI
Donaghadee Ladies 2s travelled to Friends School, Lisburn to play South Antrim on a wet day and, with only 11 players due to one player having to umpire each quarter, it was set to be a challenge.

However, Donaghadee were quick to attack with Vicky O’Neill in centre midfield distributing wide balls for Kerrie Turtle and Tasha McGimpsey to pick up on the wings. The breakthrough came quickly: during one neat exchange Emily Morris received the ball on the right and she was able to pick out a super pass into the circle where Kerrie met with a decisive touch to redirect the ball past the wrong-footed keeper to put Donaghadee 1-0 to the good.

South Antrim tried to counter, launching a series of dangerous attacks but they ran into a solid wall formed by the defence of Floss Patton, Angela Parker, Natalie Jamieson and Row Moore who were equally determined not to let the home side through.

Donaghadee’s efforts were gaining momentum, and they soon doubled their lead with a lovely attack. Erin Hamilton found Tasha wide, who then delivered a perfectly weighted pass right onto the penalty spot where Emily was on hand to slot the ball home with a clinical finish to give the Dee a 2-0 advantage.

South Antrim began to create more chances in quarter 2 and it wasn’t long before they slid the ball past keeper Janice McVeigh, to bring the scoreline to 2-1. The third quarter was end to end, with Caroline Davison and Lauren Niblock executing some solid tackles in the middle of the pitch to break down the play and try to turn defence to attack so that Donaghadee could consolidate their lead.

Despite firm defence from Donaghadee and a number of cracking saves from Janice, South Antrim countered again to pull back the scoreline to 2-2 in what turned out to be the final goal of the match, with honours even in an end-to-end contest.

In a performance defined by resilience and never-say-die attitude, a massive shoutout goes to Natalie Jamieson, whose mighty performance in defence earned her Star Player this week, and special thanks go to Caroline, Floss, Row and Emily for umpiring a quarter each. 

The 2s now have a week off before they are back in action on the 8th of November at home to Enniskillen, 2:30pm pass back.

2XI Sponsor Shoutouts
We are delighted that the following players from Saturday’s match are being individually sponsored. If you would like to sponsor your favourite player, please speak to them directly or email us at dlhc@hotmail.co.uk. View all sponsored players here