LADIES FOOTBALL: Coleraine pay the penalty

Coleraine started the sharpest with some good football and a tactical switch mid way through the first half saw the two wide players swap resulting in the ball remaining on the left hand side for long periods of the first half. Lauren Marshall was again outstanding and was just off target with a number of long range efforts, though against the run of play it was Armagh that took the lead going into the break.

Unlike previous weeks Coleraine never let their heads drop and came out fighting at the start of the second half but were dealt a blow when striker Sapphire Dudley went of injured to be replaced by Coleen. The tactical switch from the first half was once again paying dividends as the wide players were seeing plenty of the ball, particularly Chelsea Moore out on the left as the young player gave the Armagh right back a tough time all night.

The breakthrough came for Coleraine from a ball by midfielder Katelyn McKane into the box and Chelsea Moore was there ahead of the keeper to slot the ball home. It wasn’t long before Coleraine added a second through Kirsten Stevenson with a strike from outside the box and just as it was looking as though Coleraine were going to earn a well deserved win Armagh equalised out of nowhere sending the game into extra-time.

Extra-time was an even affair with both sides creating chances but with the light fading and the hail stones starting the game was decided by penalty kicks which Armagh went on to win 4-3.

Team: Danielle Stewart, Michelle Friel, Shairee Nicholl, Connie Brown, Emma McCauley, Kirsten Stevenson, Lauren Marshall, Katelyn McKane, Chelsea Moore, Alison Kelly, Sapphire Dudley Subs: Coleen

The ladies were back in league action again, this time they hosted Derry City. The game started evenly and Coleraine created a number of chances only to conceded direct from a corner in the first half, but they continued to play some good football and went into the break a goal behind.

After the break Coleraine continued to press with the midfield duo of Lauren Marshall and Katelyn McKane driving forward, but the extra-time of Monday night started to show and Derry scored a second, never the less Coleraine continued to push on and were unlucky not to at least get on the score sheet.

The ladies will be looking to get a result when they travel to local rivals Limavady Ladies for the derby game on Wednesday night kick-off 7.30pm.

Team: Danielle Stewart, Michelle Friel, Shairee Nicholl, Connie Brown, Emma McCauley, Kirsten Stevenson, Lauren Marshall, Katelyn McKane, Chelsea Moore, Alison Kelly, Michelle Carson Subs: Coleen, Victoria Wade.

The ladies would like to thank the match sponsors Anchor Bar, Portstewart and the Moore family and also the ball sponsors Mullans Butchers and Culi Coffee.