Cookstown Ladies earn three valuable points

Greenisland Ladies 1st XI 1

AFTER the Christmas break Cookstown Ladies were determined to get their first win in 2012.

With Greenisland sitting a number of places higher in the table they knew they had a tough challenge ahead of them and their previous encounter had resulted in a 2-2 draw.

Cookstown were on their game right from the start of the whistle. A Greenisland error saw L. McAleece intercept the ball and drive into the circle to win a penalty corner in the opening seconds. A straight strike by L. McAleece converted the corner and gave the ladies a 1-0 advantage in the first minute.

Immediately after the restart Cookstown again were piling the pressure on Greenisland. C. Brown was able to drive down the right hand line winning another penalty corner in the second minute of the game. A well worked penalty corner saw C. Brown float the ball past the Greenisland keeper and give Cookstown a two goal lead within the first two minutes. For the rest of the half Greenisland fought hard and B. Williamson was forced to make some good saves and maintaining Cookstown’s two goal lead.

After half time Cookstown knew they had to work hard and not let Greenisland get back in the game. P. Black and L. Johnston were unlucky not to get on the score sheet, as both had chances early on in the half. Cookstown’s third goal came from a break on the right of the pitch. L. Johnston played the ball inside to L. McAleece who was able to feed the ball through to R. Brown on the run. R. Brown was able to drive into the circle and calmly slot the ball past the Greenisland keeper and give the ladies a three goal lead.

With 15 minutes left to play Greenisland looked determined to try and get back into the game. They pressed the Cookstown defence and fought hard to win a number of penalty corners. Hard work from G. Brown, R. Smyth and R. Millar held off the visiting forwards.

In the last 7 minutes Greenisland drove forward again, forcing another penalty corner. They were able to get a goal back and Cookstown knew they couldn’t afford to relax and would have to fight until the end. Cookstown were unlucky not to get another goal before the end but were delighted to get their first three points of 2012. Next week the ladies are away to Omagh, a team fighting for survival in Senior One. They know that a win would mean a valuable three points but Omagh cannot be underestimated.

Team: B. Williamson, G. Brown (VC), L. Buchanon, R. Smyth, R. Millar, R. Nelson, R. Brown, L. Gillespie, C. Brown, L. McAleece (C), L. Johnston, P. Black