Match Reports
Saturday 21st November
Randalstown 1st XI 1 Old Alex 1st XI 2
Old Alex started the game off from the centre, moving the ball well through the back and midfield. A great through ball from a free hit outside the 25, found Rosin Flinn free in the circle, and she coolly slotted the ball past the oncoming Town Keeper.
Old Alex won a penalty corner in the 5th minute, the initial strike was saved by Emma Teggarty in Town goal and well cleared by Katherine Elkin.
Vanessa Surgenor played a an excellent through ball to Jayne McGrillen, who’s effort was cleared off the goal line by an Old Alex defender.
Old Alex were awarded a penalty corner for a foul committed outside the circle by Emma Parker. The first shot was saved by Teggarty but Randalstown failed to clear their lines which resulted in another penalty corner which was this time well defended.
1st Quarter: Randalstown 0 – 1 Old Alex
Old Alex got the 2nd quarter off to a flier with an early penalty corner which was switched right to Sarah Canning, which was again stopped by Emma Teggarty.
A counter attack by R’town saw a good pass by Elkin, cleverly watched by the Old Alex keeper over the line.
Both teams tried to move the ball through the midfield, R’towns Emma Parker made an excellent interception on a dangerous cross field ball, but luckily for Old Alex the ball still fell to Lucy Cotter, who won a deserved penalty corner in the 28th minute.
Alex this time went left from the corner and Aoife Budd deflected the cross circle ball, past Emma Teggarty.
Emma Parker again stepped in to intercept and played an excellent up field ball to Judith Atkinson whose misplaced pass thwarted a great opportunity for R’town to attack.
2nd Quarter: Randalstown 0 – 2 Old Alex
Randalstown made a better start to the 3rd quarter with Elkin winning a penalty corner in the 37th minute. The strike was well saved by Alex keeper and excellent persistent play from Vanessa Surgenor paid off with another penalty corner.
The keeper again saved with the ball falling to Elkin
who set up Winnington on the edge of the circle. Her excellent strike
was well stopped by Hazel Agar in nets.
Vanessa Surgenor again turned provider, winning Randalstown’s 3rd corner
through excellent stick skills. Old Alex defence stood strong and cleared
their lines.
Old Alex broke from their own 25 yard line through Rosin Flinn, who made an excellent solo run playing the ball through to the Ann Marie Cullen. Elkin made an excellent tackle playing the quick free to Surgenor who played in Lesley Doyle. Doyle won a penalty corner from which Surgenor’s shot was deflected over the bar.
R’town maintained the pressure winning another penalty corner through J McGrillen who received a good inside ball from Nicole Moore, this was again well defended by Alex.
R.towns 6th penalty corner was switched to Sharon Graham but the Alex defender cleared for a long corner.
Vanessa Surgenor used excellent strength and skill to win another free outside the 25 yard line, which resulted in Old Alex’ Cullen being green carded. This was followed by a yellow card for Old Alex’ Fyona Flinn for verbals.
More great individual skill from the young Surgenor from a well won free on the edge resulted in a R’town corner.
Rebecca Winningtons strike was well stopped by Agar as was the follow up by Vanessa Surgenor. Winnington played an excellent reverse stick pass across the circle which struck a defender’s foot giving Town their 8th corner which was again stopped by the Old Alex defence.
Again it was Town’s young player Surgenor who won another corner, from which the strike came up off the keepers pads into Jayne McGrillen, but again this pressure was not converted.
A great mazy run from Elkin on the stroke of time won Towns 11th corner. The ball was moved left to Winnington who’s shot was well saved by the in form Agar, but she could not keep out Catherine McGrillens well placed effort, this was the just rewards for a period of sustained pressure by the home team.
3rd Quarter: Randalstown 1 – 2 Old Alex
An early Randalstown attack was thwarted when Vanessa Surgenor was green carded for an unnecessary tackle.
Sharon Graham made a good run from outside the 25 yard line and won R’town’s 12th corner but unfortunately the first strike was too high and Old Alex cleared their lines.
It looked like tiredness was setting in as both teams play slowed and more long balls were introduced.
Great turn by Alex’ Rosin Flinn, gave herself room to execute a pinpoint pass to Leah Lenehan who put her good effort wide.
As the game continued but teams started to make lazy mistakes and very few clear cut chances were created.
Old Alex’ Rosin Flinn again created a great chance for Alex to increase their lead but Laura McCoy’s reverse stick effort went high and wide.
Final Score: Randalstown 1 – 2 Old Alex
C. McGrillen R Flinn
A Budd
Penalty Corners
Randalstown 12
Old Alex 5
Randalstown 5ths 7 Lisnagarvey 7ths 1
Randalstown 5ths had
a good win against an on form Lisnagarvey team at Antrim Forum on Saturday.
They took the lead in the fifth minute when Amy Mellor picked up a cross
and scored at the right post. Two minutes later the ever alert Emily
Reid scored from a goalmouth scramble.
Lisnagarvey had a very strong, experienced right wing player who created
danger for the Randalstown team every time she got the ball. However
Rhianna Brown made an excellent job of marking her throughout the game.
Young Gillian Weir scored to give Randalstown a 3 nil lead at halftime.
The second half saw Randalstown taking control. Megan Lamont ran up
the left wing before passing to Emily to score her second right at the
start of the half. A few minutes later Christine Carson scored when
she received the ball at the back of the circle and shot into the net.
Lisanagarvey, with only one defeat so far this season, were always trying
to get back into the game, and in the tenth minute pulled one back when
they intercepted a Randalstown clearance and scored. They came close
to scoring again from a penalty corner but Lizzie Logan cleared of the
line and goalkeeper Rebecca Greenfield also made a few crucial saves.
Megan again took the ball up the wing before squaring to Emily to score
and soon after Emily got her fourth with a solo effort when she collected
a hit out from Erica Mailey and ran up the pitch and scored.
A great team performance from everyone keeps this young side top of
the league with eight wins out of eight. However this Saturday they
are at home to second place Ards, the only other team in the league
to remain unbeaten, so both teams will be out to maintain this record.
Thanks to David Mellor for umpiring and to those who came to support
the team.
Please note: Thursday
26th Nov 6.00-10.00pm at Parkhall College Senior School, Antrim "The
BIG SHWOP" a fundraising event where people bring good quality
clothing/shoes and can swop their items for any other items brought
by other people. Great social evening planned, with refreshments etc.
All welcome! £5 donation greatly received
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