Defeat brings a double whammy for Dromore

Dromore Ladies were dealt a double blow last Wednesday as they suffered are a crushing 5-4 defeat at the hands of Cappagh Spurs and saw captain Tracy Orr rushed to A&E.
Dromore Ladies are now five points behind second placed Lisburn Ladies with three games to play, although Lisburn have a game in hand. INBL1527-227PBDromore Ladies are now five points behind second placed Lisburn Ladies with three games to play, although Lisburn have a game in hand. INBL1527-227PB
Dromore Ladies are now five points behind second placed Lisburn Ladies with three games to play, although Lisburn have a game in hand. INBL1527-227PB

The action-packed defeat all but ended the side’s hopes of a top two finish while Orr had to go to hospital with a shoulder injury sustained late in the game.

Thankfully for Dromore, scans revealed only bad bruising and no broken bones.

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Boss Davy Welshman was left particularly disappointed with three goals conceded from set-pieces.

“Myself and Davy Hodgen are disappointed in the manner in which we conceded three second half goals,” he said.

“e have been very consistent all season defending set pieces and to lose three undid all our good work going forward.

“We have struggled to get our best side out and in this league you need to be at your best every week if you have any ambition to challenge for the title.”

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A confident Cappagh side began the game well with NI U19 International Chloe McGlade going close with a couple of half chances.

Dromore, missing four players due to work commitments, had to move a few players around with Rachel Davis stepping in at right back after missing the previous week’s game with Derry.

The away side were struggling to break through the home defence and with 15 minutes on the clock, Cappagh broke the deadlock.

A great ball from the home side’s number five cut the Dromore defence apart and McGlade swept the ball past McClements in the away goal.

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The goal seemed to shock the Dromore girls into action with Kelly and Gibson now starting to dominate the middle of the park. With 25 minutes on the clock it was Gibson and Ruddy who forced the equaliser. A great one two resulted in Ruddy slipping the ball past the home goalkeeper to bring the tie level.

The away side were playing good football and forcing Cappagh into making mistakes, one of which resulted in a free-kick to Dromore.

Captain Orr stepped up and put the ball over the back four for leading scorer Taggart to bravely head past the keeper who collided with Taggart in the process.

The lead was short lived as three minutes later a free kick bounced dangerously in the away box which the Cappagh striker despatched into the top corner giving McClements no chance.

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The scoring wasn’t finished there as in form winger Debs Douglas broke away and hit a dangerous ball high into the box that deceived the home goalkeeper as she spilled the ball over the line to give Dromore a 3-2 half-time lead.

With 57 minutes on the clock Cappagh forced a corner, Taggart cleared the ball to the edge of the box where the Cappagh centre half hit it first time through the crowd of players into the goal to bring the sides level again.

Then an almost carbon copy corner resulted in the same Cappagh player scoring her second goal of the game putting Cappagh 4-3 up with 15 minutes left.

Again Dromore picked themselves up and took the game to Cappagh. Their determined efforts paid off as with ten minutes to go Ruddy was pulled down in the box with the ref on hand to award the penalty. Up stepped Captain Orr to bravely take the spot kick with immense pressure on her as she had missed her last two penalties but this time she made no mistake blasting the ball high and wide of the keeper to take the scores to 4-4.

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With a draw looking the most likely outcome, both sides had half chances to take the lead again. Cappagh forced another corner with five minutes to go and much to the dismay of the Dromore management it went the same as the last two Cappagh goals, the ball being cleared to a Cappagh player who shot past McClements to give Cappagh a 5-4 lead.

With time running out, the away side suffered a massive blow when captain Orr collided with the Cappagh number five, taking her full weight on her left shoulder.

With no subs left and Orr now off the pitch receiving treatment the girls had to play the last two minutes with 10 players and couldn’t force the draw.

BookPeople sponsored player of the match was Louise Kelly.

DROMORE: McClements, Davis, Orr, Martin, Smith, Douglas, Kelly, Gibson, Ruddy, Taggart, Hughes. Sub: Dummigan.

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