Wade on target for Northern Ireland ladies

Goalkeeper Alice Harkness and striker Lauren Wade both lined out for Alfie Wylie's side, against Scotland at the Joey Dunlop Centre in Ballymoney.

Scotland started the game very strongly, keeping the tempo high against Northern Ireland who, due to their domestic season ending last October, showed their lack of match practice with a shaky start and found themselves 2-0 with the end of the first half approaching.

Northern Ireland soon began to find their stride, scoring just before the half-time whistle when a Kendra McMullan pass was lobbed over the keeper by Rachel Laverty to make it 2-1.

The second half saw a changed Northern Ireland grab the equaliser in the first five minutes, the goal coming from Coleraine Ladies star Lauren Wade, who hammered the ball home from a cross.

NI coach Alfie Wylie, was proud of the team's effort, he said: "The girls showed good character in this match.

"They have been out of domestic football for quite some time and were lacking the sharpness that comes with it. However, they showed their resolve in not lying back and taking defeat and have come away with a draw they can be proud of."

The two teams met again on Thursday, Scotland ran out 2-1 winners.