Ladies’ Second XI open league campaign with draw at Carrick

Ballymena ladies’ Second XI opened their season with a 1-1 draw at Carrick on Saturday.
Ballymena players rush out to defend a Victorians penalty corner. INBT39-237ACBallymena players rush out to defend a Victorians penalty corner. INBT39-237AC
Ballymena players rush out to defend a Victorians penalty corner. INBT39-237AC

Ballymena were in a confident mood given that their previous encounter with this side had ended in a resounding 5-1 victory.

Ballymena started well with fluid intelligent passing in the midfield. The forwards too posed a threat of their own and probed the Carrick defence early on.

Despite their best efforts though, the back of the Carrick net eluded any designs the Ballymena forwards had at snatching an early goal.

In a fairly even contest it was Ballymena who were the first to break the deadlock with a fantastic run from Stephanie Storey who, keen to hold onto her title of leading goal scored from last season, coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net with a reverse shot.

Ballymena squandered a raft of penalty corners and had to settle for a single goal cushion going into the break.

As play commenced, following the restart, it was Carrick who looked as though they had more to offer as they pressed and jostled the Ballymena defence.

Again and again Ballymena were forced to defend as though their very lives depended upon it and, but for Joanne Logan’s bravery and athleticism in goal, Carrick would have run away with the match.

This second half turned into quite an exciting contest when Ballymena regrouped and countered with an all or nothing surge towards the hosts goal line unfortunately the killer finish just wasn’t there and the advantage was lost.

Carrick doggedly pressed on and won yet another penalty corner which, this time, resulted in the equaliser for the hosts.

Ballymena should be happy with a draw in which, it has to be said, was more down to the proficiency of a solid defence than to any prowess displayed by the Ballymena front line!

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Ballymena 6, Saintfield 1: Ballymena welcomed Saintfield to the Showgrounds on Saturday for their penultimate group match in the Sussex Regiment Cup. With multiple first team regulars unavailable for selection, Ballymena had to reshuffle their defence and Saintfield gained the upper hand in the early exchanges.

Ballymena struggled to find their game throughout the first half, gifting Saintfield possession and territory which afforded them a well-deserved early lead 0-1.

Ballymena responded well and equalised with the final play of the half when, Crooks, after missing an open net from a short corner, pounced on the rebound to end his five year goal drought!

A few positional changes and a stern talking to at half-time sparked Ballymena into life and 1-1 soon became 3-1 after two goals in quick succession. Ballymena’s second goal, from Holmes, was a deft touch and their third from Monteith, the result of a diving finish put the game firmly out of the visitors’ reach.

Crooks doubled his tally for the day with an unstoppable first time sweep into the roof off the net and capped a fine all round performance with a pinpoint pass O’Neill, in acres of space, who drove a shot across the Saintfield keeper leaving him no chance. Ballymena’s dominance was further amplified when Monteith bagged his brace 6-1.

Next up in the cup is Portrush at home and thanks to Trevor Topping and Andy Linford for umpiring.

Ballymena Eddie Hampton, Chris Hogg (C), David McDonald, Andrew Lorimer, Aaron Murphy, Andrew Crooks, Andrew McKelvey, Victor Orr, Matt O’Neill, David Holmes, Tim Lowry, Mark Monteith.

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