New-look Carrick Ladies slump to defeat on home debut

With no fewer than six of last year's first team squad unavailable this year, Carrick fielded a radically restructured side which, under the leadership of new team captain Julie Oliver, will have to work extremely hard this season to retain their much-valued place in Senior Two.

An early season clash against Carrick's perpetual bogey team, PSNI, was hardly the home debut the team would have asked for. But it at least provided the players with a clear indication of the challenge they will face over the next six to seven months.

A lively start from the visitors was initially well contained by the Carrick defence with their young goalkeeper Sara Beattie featuring strongly against a series of PSNI penalty corner strikes. But Sara could do nothing to prevent PSNI taking the lead when their star player picked up on a loose ball and rounded the goalkeeper.

Carrick could, and should, have been back on level terms when their lively striker Jackie Spence looked likely to find the back of the net but a moment of indecision allowed the PSNI defence to clear.

A second goal, this time from a PSNI penalty corner, sealed the win for the visitors.

"It's of course disappointing to lose our opening home fixture," said Carrick manager Neil McConnell after the match, "but we're pleased that the girls showed plenty of fighting spirit and competed throughout the entire match. We're having to accommodate some major changes since last season with Amie Campbell, Kelly Campbell, Lorna Hill, Clare McCormick, Jennifer Richmond, and Christine Waide all unavailable to us this year.

"So this season's league and cup campaigns are going to be a big ask for us all. The club has successfully managed its way through similar levels of change in the past, and I've absolutely no doubt this particular group of Carrick players have the spirit and ability to keep us in Senior Two. That's our prime target for this season. We're already seeing an improvement in our team play and providing everyone continues to work hard at training and keeps their head up as they did today, we can and will start to accumulate those vital league points," added Neil.

Carrick Ladies first team squad: Sara Beattie, Emma Boal, Christine Clarke, Michelle Finlay, Caris Greenwood, Stacey McGookin, Kerry McIlroy, Natasha McWilliams, Trish Neill, Emma Nichols, Julie Oliver (capt), Lois Passmore, Jackie Spence, Melissa Taylor.