North Down Ladies made the short journey down the Ards Peninsula to take on Abbey Villa Ladies at Adam’s Park in Millisle and recorded an historic first win of 2006 with a good all round and impressive performance.

Team: Leanne McGarry; Paula Dougherty (capt.), Patricia Webb, Kim Dockery, Julie Graham; Petra Armstrong, Ash Hutton, Cathy Duncan, Carolyn Scott; Susan Cull, Deidre Savage.
Subs: Lisa Mahood and Joanna Williamson.

Joanne Williamson covers in the game agaisnt Abbey Villa

A difficult bumpy pitch, sweeping cold northerly blasts and the threat of a downpour made this, a fixture far from ideal warm up game for the Bangor based side, with the Intermediate B divisional campaign’s just a few weeks away - but it was viewed as an good opportunity for the newly formed side to get another important game under their belts.

Northern Ireland international Ash Hutton opened the scoring after just 2 minutes

Kicking off at 7 - early nerves were quickly stifled when, after just a few minutes, Bangor teenager Ash Hutton picked an early clearance outside the box and cleverly curled the ball with the inside of her foot past the stranded keeper and into the bottom corner 1-0.

With the home side putting a lot of effort into closing down and chasing the ball in numbers, North Down Ladies were struggling to get into their rhythm and under the pressure of the high tempo of the game, were often guilty of rushing and giving the ball away to easily.

Cathy Duncan clears in the friendly in Millisle versus Abbey Villa

This did encourage Villa to keep that tactic of a high tempo up and they looked for an opportunity of a break through - but the defence were very solid, working high up the pitch, Dougherty on the right solid and Graham on the left confident with Dockery and Webb in the middle with the pace to cover anything which got behind them.

With the middle of the park very congested, the pattern of the game was untidy, however with the midfield getting to grips with the game, up front the chances were starting to fall - Deidre Savage was on form and had a couple of shots either side of the goal, Cull almost returned a goal kick with a clever volley with sailed over and Duncan unlucky not to double the advantage with a long range low drive.

After 20 minutes, the introduction of Lisa Mahood, after Susan Cull had made it 2-0, made an immediate impact and within minutes of her arrival, the visitor’s had indeed added to their tally - this time Savage, who had peppered the home net, made it 3-0 with a neat finish.

Lisa Mahood who got a double in the away win in Millisle

A third followed immediately and it was probably the best move of the night - some neat one-touch exchanges down the left hand and a cross from Armstrong was met first time in the middle by an alert Mahood to turn in - but it was ruled out for offside - although North Down quickly responded and nicked the another goal late on in the first half.

Hutton battles for control against a lively Abbey Villa midfield

With only five minutes to half time and Abbey Villa enjoyed they best spell of the game and gave North Down some problems with the sheer enthusiasm of their forward play and forced a series of corners, to the delight of the home support, but these were comfortably dealt with.
Half time 4-0.

After the break and with the visitors now seizing control of the game, set about trying to take the tempo of the game right down with some neat and slick passing and it was very pleasing for the management team to finally see North Down displaying a more controlled and neatly played football - and the rewards were quick to follow - with a succession of goals which effectively killed of the game and any hope for Abbey Villa.

Credit to Abbey Villa who tried hard to stay with the visitors, but to be fair, despite their work ethic, were swamped by the quality in the middle of the park, Northern Ireland international Ash Hutton, paired with the hard working and quickly improving Cathy Duncan dominating.

Action from North Down v. Abbey Villa

Up front the makeshift partnership of Mahood and Dougherty linked up on the night and with plenty of supply for the strikers both returned with goals - Savage rattling a hat-trick - the best of which was a neatly placed low drive into the corner; Mahood and Duncan returns with a double each and Armstrong, Cull and Hutton recorded goals in a decisive but important away win.

NEXT GAME

With the 2006 NIWFA league campaign about to get underway North Down will travel up to North Belfast to take on the 2005 Greater Belfast divisional champion Rathfern Rangers, at The Diamond in Rathcoole, the game is scheduled for a 7.15 p.m. kick off.

North Down Ladies captain Paula Dougherty



WORLD CUP QUALIFIER - NORTHERN IRELAND v. KAZAKHSTAN 22/04/06

Last Edited Guest on 20-Apr-2006 2:20 AM