Ballyclare ladies sweep past Carrick

The seniors romped to a 4-0 win in the Qualifying Plate at the expense of Carrickfergus Ladies, while the 2nd XI picked up Junior League points with a 5-0 home win against Banbridge II.

By virtue of their higher rating in the Senior League Section 2 table, the seniors were rated pre-match favourites for the local derby clash in Carrick, where two unanswered goals in each half confirmed Ballyclare’s superiority.

Tori Wallace, Lorraine Ashcroft, Emma Patterson and team captain Caroline Darragh soon asserted their authority in midfield, so that play was mainly in home territory, and eventually Jess West opened the scoring after Wallace had dribbled round several opponents.

Wallace and Lydia Campbell continued to impress down the right flank, and in one of their attacks Campbell doubled the lead with a well placed shot in to the bottom corner.

After the interval Sara Coulter in the ‘Clare goal continued to be almost a spectator, in contrast to her opposite number who was seldom out of the action, saving efforts from Jacquie Hanley, Rebekah Mills, Lauren Curley and West, but she had no chance when Hanley increased the lead with a delightful reverse stick flick.

Carrick were limited to occasional forays forward, but got little change from a sound defence, so it was easy for Coulter to record a clean sheet, and near the end West and Curley set it up for Girl of the Game, Tori Wallace, to deservedly get her name on the scorecard.

Ballyclare Ladies panel: S Coulter, E Patterson, N Kempton, C McGookin, L Campbell, L Ashcroft, C Darragh (C), T Wallace, R Mills, J West, J Hanley, L Curley.

Julie West’s 2nd XI cemented their top-four Junior League Section 3 placing with a routine win against relegation-threatened Banbridge II at Foundry Lane.

Zoe Reid opened the scoring when she pounced on the loose ball after Emma McDonald’s initial effort had been blocked.

McDonald doubled the lead following fine approach play by Julie Cooke and Jordan Jones, and after the interval Joanne Cooke added a third with a firm strike from the top of the circle.

Reid doubled her personal tally when left unmarked in the circle, and near the end club stalwart Janice Wilson completed the rout.

Ballyclare Ladies II panel: L Armour, E Johnston, L McCracken, Julie Cooke (C), Joanne Cooke, E McDonald, Z Reid, J West, J Wilson, J Jones, P Gilmour, S Roy.

This weekend the seniors will be hoping to complete a League Section 2 double over Civil Service at Foundry Lane, having previously won at Stormont, and the other fixtures are: Omagh II v Ballyclare II; Grosvenor III v Ballyclare III.