Hard work didn’t pay for South ladies

Ruth Young, whose father sponsored a match through Young Fuels, and Elaine Aiken both from South Ladies Firsts.

South Ladies Firsts entertained Cooke Firsts at Laurelhill Sportzone hoping to continue with their positive start to the season but the Cooke team proved too good a match for them and came away with a victory.

South were unlucky to go a goal down after the first five minutes when a ball into the circle hit a South defender on the foot and went into the goal. South responded well with Jill Cooper doing some fine running and combining well with Danielle Heasley on the right managed to pressure the Cooke defence. The subsequent shot at goal was well saved and the Cooke team responded by mounting an attack on the South goal.

The Cooke team continued the pressure but Alison Marsden in the South defence was able to clear the ball to help the South forwards mount another attack.

Alannah Richardson working hard in midfield found Jill Cooper who with her usual fast pace carried the ball down the right and again combining well with Danielle Heasley found the edge of the circle.

Danielle passed two defenders at the edge of the circle and a great reverse stick shot passed the keeper to put South back into the game.

This seemed to spur Cooke into action and another attack found the Cooke centre forward who made no mistake and beat the keeper to put Cooke ahead. South continued to work hard and a clear pass found Ruth Young who continued to push forward but the Cooke defence held firm.

In the end the Cooke team proved superior on this occasion and some fine play in midfield was rewarded when the South centre was again in front of goal and made no mistake when she got her second goal of the game to finish the match 3 – 1. The ladies can take consolation with some fine performances from the match especially from some of the younger players including Jill Holley and Amy Dugan and especially player of the match Zara Carson who have made their debut in the senior ranks this season.

Many thanks to William Redpath and Neil Wilson for umpiring. The ladies travel to Holywood next week. Special thanks to Young Fuels for sponsoring the match.

The future is also looking bright for South Antrim Ladies as their U15’s beat Grosvenor 5-3 in the U15 league with Lucy Stewart scoring 4 of the goals.