Ladies Seconds earn fine draw against league leaders

North Down are beginning to emerge from the Junior 2 league as a league leaders and therefore the team to beat.

North Down caught Banbridge by surprise winning a short corner within the first few minutes of the game.

The opportunity was converted to give the Bangor ladies an early lead.

This early goal was the wake up call Banbridge needed and forced the team to focus on the job at hand.

Banbridge gradually began to find their form and as confidence grew they grasped hold of the game with key plays coming from Rebecca Huey, Tara Ward and Jayne Scott.

Kate Cunningham made a welcome return to Banbridge’s defensive team and her calm but powerful play settled the entire back line with Rachel Groves, Claire Waring and Rebecca Dale displaying some solid and flawless defending throughout the remainder of the match.

Banm keeper Louise Beckett was in outstanding form, pulling off a couple of crucial saves to keep the opportunistic North attackers at bay.

Into the second half, D’Arcey Campbell, making her debut for the senior club, found Lauren McGaw on the right wing and she used her speed to run round the North Down defender.

Lauren’s cross found Sarah Anderson mid circle and unmarked, Sarah’s first time touch of the ball found the back of the North Down net, leveling the score.

Banbridge continued to mount the pressure with mid fielders and forwards Aileen Lawson, Katie Uprichard, Amy Gray and Melissa Whan pressing hard to find the winner. Unfortunately time slipped away and a second goal proved elusive.

North Down made Banbridge work for the final result and it was a hard earned but well deserved point.