Heartache for Kempton's girls

Ballyclare Ladies 1

COOKSTOWN Ladies completed a Senior League Section 1 double over Ballyclare Ladies when they secured a win at the weekend on their own patch.

Having won with a solitary strike in Ballyclare the previous week, the County Tyrone girls did better in Cookstown where they triumphed 3-1.

Nikki Kempton's girls started promisingly and opened the scoring when Karen Dixon connected with a Lorraine Ashcroft cross, and netted with the help of a deflection that left the home goalie wrong-footed.

This reverse sparked the home side into lefe and they soon equalised, and following a period of sustained pressure moved in to the lead just before the interval.

During the half-time break the 'Clare girls opted to go for broke by adopting an attacking policy, and had the locals penned in their own quarters in the early exchanges in the second session.

However this tactic didn't produce any scores, but left Ballyclare suspect to a quick counter-attack, and this proved to be the case with Cookstown increasing the lead.

Ballyclare continued to play fluent hockey, but failed to make any real impression when they reached the circle where the home defence reigned supreme.

Caroline Darragh shone in defence, while Emma Patterson and Natasha Munn made strong runs up front without much success.

The defeat leaves Ballyclare in joint bottom position in the league table alongside Kilkeel Ladies, each with only one win.

The 2nd XI played out a scoreless draw with Pegasus III in a Junior League Section 2 fixture in Ballyclare.

The Ballyclare girls had been expected to pick up maximum points from a Pegs side that is still without a win, but despite having the majority of possession they were unable to break the deadlock.

Laura Gilbert earned the Girl of the Game award.

Ballyclare Ladies II panel: S Coulter,E Johnston, L McCracken (C),R Phillips, J Jordan, Joanne Cooke, Julie Cooke, J-L Wilkin, L Gilbert, L Radcliffe, N McConnell, J West, A Terrett.

This weekend's fixtures: 1st XI v Queen's, away; 2nd XI v Priorians II, away; 3rd XI v Carrickfergus II, away.