Dromore lose their unbeaten home record

Loughgall came into the game three points above Dromore and had the added confidence as they had beaten Dromore 4-0 in the first league game of the season.

Loughgall kicked off and went straight at the home team, forcing a corner in the first minute. As the corner came in two Loughgall players went for the same ball resulting in both trainers being called onto the pitch to deal with a clash of heads. Thankfully no serious damage was done and both players got to their feet to continue the game.

Dromore's first real attack came 10 mins in when Ciara McElderry played a great ball through to Kerry Taggart, she beat the defence but the advancing keeper managed to get a hand to the ball and deflect it wide for a corner.

The front three of Kerry, Ciara and Nikki were starting to get some joy from the Loughgall defence and in midfield Amy-Louise Graham was taking control. Dromore had settled well and on 16th minute they got a free kick on the edge of the Lakers box, Tracy Orr stepped up and hit a great free kick towards the goal. Kerry rose unchallenged but couldn't direct her header on goal.

Both teams were trying to play football on a hard pitch but it was Dromore who looked the more dangerous as Amy-Lou and Louise Kelly dominated the midfield breaking up the Lakers attacks and releasing the home teams forwards at every opportunity.

The back three had the Lakers forwards well under control and Lauren Gibson, playing right midfield, was dropping back when needed.

With half time approaching all the home teams good work was nearly thrown away. A Lakers throw close to the box found their centre forward who slipped the ball back to the thrower then managed to evade Fi Martin to get the ball and cross it into the home box. The ball fell to the Lakers winger but she managed to hit her shot wide from three yards.

The game restarted with Roger McCartan telling his players to remain confident and keep playing as they did in the first half. After 10 minutes Roger made his first change, taking off Laura Stewart and replacing her with Emma McClements. This was to try and stop the Lakers' right winger who was getting more and more into the game.

Both teams were now going for the game not prepared to settle for a draw and pushed forward at every opportunity. Both teams forced corners but a combination of good defending and poor delivery ensured nether keeper was troubled.

In the 74th minute Lauren picked up the ball in midfield, she beat her marker and played the ball in behind the Lakers defence. Kerry running full speed left the left back standing and placed the ball round the keeper into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Now with their tales up Dromore tried to kill the game. Good work on the edge of the box saw the Lakers concede a free kick. Nikki stepped up but her shot just wouldn't dip enough to trouble the keeper.

The Lakers responded and hit back straight away forcing Dromore back and finally into giving away a corner. The corner was put high into the box and Tracy managed to head it away to the edge of the box. Fi picked it up and passed to Lauren, she in turn passed it to Nikki who played a great one-two with Amy-Lou, then played a great ball to beat the Lakers off side trap and Kerry found herself running towards goal. Unfortunatly this time her shot was blasted high and over the bar.

This was to prove costly as the Lakers threw on their top goalscorer. Their right winger began to get further towards the home goal and when the Dromore defence failed to clear their lines she unleashed a shot from inside the box which went through Laura Magowan's hands and into the net.

The Lakers were now getting on top for the first time in the game and their line encouraged them to press for the winner. With five minutes remaining the Lakers took the lead. A ball over the back found the striker racing towards the home goal, Laura dived and managed to deflect the ball away from her goal - it looked like it was going for a corner when the winger raced from nowhere and put the ball in the empty net from the tightest of angles.

Roger replaced Nikki with Dani Creaney but Dromore just couldn't force the equaliser and the game finished 2-1 to the Lakers.

This was probably the home team's best performance all season as they played flowing attractive football and were well in control of the game. However two slips in concentration saw them punished and it's the Lakers who now push on for promotion back to the Premiership.

Best for Dromore was Amy-Louise who played a great game in centre midfield and Nikki who held the ball up and rarely wasted it.

Dromore now have to pick themselves up as they go to Fermanagh Mallards on Wednesday July 7.