Clinical Ballynahinch prove too strong for Parkview

Three home unanswered goals – all from penalty corners – had Clare McClean’s girls on the back foot at the interval, but evergreen Jenny Wallace prevented the whitewash with a second-half strike.

The ‘Hinch ladies got off to a flyer with two goals in the opening 10 minutes when the visitors were penned in their own quarters.

Gradually the Doagh girls got to grips with a dominant home side who moved the ball around fluently and one good move involving Tammy Gamble, Toni Smallwood and Nicola Singleton produced a penalty corner from which Emma Stubbs’ shot was blocked.

A second penalty corner soon followed and this time the Wallace, McClean routine created an opening for Jenna Maxwell but again her strike was cleared.

The hosts finished the first half back on top and secured their third goal with a fierce strike from the top of the circle that gave Kathy Morrison no chance.

Parkview improved noticeably after the break with Lauren Brady, Wallace and Singleton prominent down the left flank. On the opposite side, one run from her own 25 to the circle by Smallwood almost produced a goal for Maxwell.

Ten minutes from time pressure was rewarded when Wallace rattled the backboard after Singleton had squared the ball across the face of the goal, but the locals made sure of no late revival with their fourth goal.

“Ballynahinch had a much stronger team than the one we beat in Ballyclare at the beginning of the season,” said Clare McClean. “After a disappointing first half we offered sterner opposition in the second.”

Parkview Ladies panel: K Morrison, W McCullough, J Rankin, E Stubbs, L Brady; E Bothwell, C McClean (C), J Wallace, T Smallwood, J Maxwell, T Gamble, N Singleton.

Parkview’s penultimate league fixture will be at Foundry Lane against Cooke on Saturday, and they complete their programme with a trip to Ballycastle on March 21.