Money girls see off Ards

From the push-back Ballymoney started strong making a series of passes which resulted in a cross from the left being deflected into the net by Diane McNeill to give Ballymoney the lead after one minute.

From the restart Ards put pressure on the Ballymoney defence and the goalkeeper, Sammy-Jo Greer, was forced to make an excellent save to maintain their lead.

The Ballymoney defence had to work very hard as the Ards forwards were continually putting pressure on them. Excellent passing between Ruth Sutherland, Angie Huey, Gayle Adams and Rachel McCahon frustrated the opposition.

With 12 minutes on the clock Julie Allison received the ball just outside the 25 yard line. She went round two players and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make the score 2-0 in Ballymoney’s favour.

Ards came back strong winning a short corner 2 minutes later.

Three more fouls resulted in three more short corners. At the third short corner a shot was cleared off the line by Rachel McCahon but Ards scored at the fourth short corner when the ball was deflected into the net at the near post. For the remainder of the half the Ballymoney team held possession leaving the score 2-1 to Ballymoney at half time.

The second half started as the first half ended with both teams showing their determination to get a good result from the match. Ballymoney’s first corner of the game came after seven minutes.

A strike from Ruth Sutherland was deflected just wide of the post by Nikki Parke. From the hit-out Ards went down the pitch forcing a sliding tackle from Sammy-Jo Greer to clear the ball.

Good work by Judith McVicker, Nikki Parke and Katie Mullan in midfield ensured that the Ards players were kept out of the Ballymoney circle. After 20 minutes Nikki Parke increased Ballymoney’s lead with a reverse stick goal after a good sequence of passes between Julie Allison and Rachel Lightbody making the score 3-1. Sammy-Jo’s skills were required five minutes later when one of the Ards forwards made a good run down the pitch to pick up a through-ball.

Soon after Ards won a short corner from which they scored their second goal. With five minutes to go Ballymoney scored their last goal when a shot from Ruth Sutherland was deflected into the back of the net by Nikki Parke from a short corner.

Although Ards had two more short corners the result remained at 4-2 to Ballymoney.

This excellent team performance puts Ballymoney into the top half of the Premier League.

Team: Sammy-Jo Greer, Ruth Sutherland, Angie Huey, Gayle Adams, Rachel McCahon, Nikki Parke, Judith McVicker, Katie Mullan, Julie Allison, Diane McNeill, Rachel Lightbody, Jessica Smith, Sarah, Harkness, Sue Ruddock

Manager: Liz Lamont