Greenisland get the better of rivals Carrick in derby clash

Carrick 1st XI went down 2-0 to local opponents Greenisland in a match the Carrick girls will quickly wish to forget.

Right from the outset, Greenisland always looked the more likely winners as they consistently outfought and outplayed Carrick across the Amphitheatre pitch.

With the first half ending scoreless, Carrick might have been expected to make more of the second period.

And while they did manage a number of shots on goal which were well saved by the Greenisland goalkeeper, Greenisland’s Lindsey Moore struck twice without reply, deservedly taking the honours in the first derby game played between these two teams for four years.

Carrick Ladies 2nd XI faced league title contenders Dungannon in another tough fixture at the Amphitheatre and for a period looked as if they might replicate their senior side’s disappointing defeat with Dungannon storming into a 2-0 half-time lead. But a transformed team steadily fought themselves back into contention in the second half with team captain Christine Clarke and Ashley McConnell both scoring to level the match at 2-2. Carrick’s Player of the Match: Holly Robinson.

Perhaps the most welcome result of the afternoon for Carrick Ladies was their battling young 3rd XI squad’s 1-1 draw at Coleraine.

The Carrick youngsters have steadily been finding their feet over recent matches under the watchful eye of their new coach, Gary McIlroy, but an absence of an effective goalscorer has consistently thwarted their efforts. On Saturday however it was 15-year-old Sophie Clarke who grabbed the headlines for Carrick when her well taken goal secured her team their second away point of the season, easing them out of the Junior Six relegation zone.

More results at least similar to Saturday’s look sure to come their way if they can continue to replicate and build on their excellent performance at Coleraine.

This weekend’s fixtures: Knock v Carrick (league); Carrick 3rd XI home to North Down (cup)