Elks captain Frazer nets winner against Queen’s

Gemma Frazer’s second-half strike proved to be the difference between the two sides as the Elks opened up a six-point gap over Ards Ladies at the top of the table.

The blustery conditions didn’t make for an entertaining game and the first half was error-ridden with both teams sharing the spoils in terms of possession and unforced mistakes.

Laura McAlpine came closest for the home side when her deflected shot looked to have beaten the ‘keeper but the ball soared over the crossbar. At the other end, Rebecca Davidson was called into action as the visitors created chances of their own.

The Newtownabbey outfit got a better grip on proceedings in the second half and began to dominate possession.

Queen’s stopper Ashley McIlroy made a number of saves from Megan Frazer, Louise Wright, Laura McAlpine and Aine Curran.

However, it was captain Gemma Frazer who eventually broke the deadlock when Stephanie Jameson picked her out with a pin-point pass on the right wing. Frazer beatone player and when she reached the edge of the circle shot high into the net over the sliding McIlroy.

Queen’s rallied in the closing stages and Davidson was called into action once again to deny them an equaliser from a penalty corner, but the Elks held out to clinch the win.

The Ulster Elks are in action on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the annual Irish Intervarsity tournament in Belfast.

They face Dublin City University on Saturday (11 am), then University College Cork on Sunday morning (9 am). The semi-finals are scheduled for Sunday afternoon, while the final is to be played on Monday.