EYHL DIVISION 1
OLD ALEX 2
ARDS LADIES 2
FOLLOWING a competitive encounter against fellow Ulster side Pegasus last week, Ards Ladies were on the road to face Old Alex in Dublin on Saturday.
The Oranges began very much on the front foot, finding Georgia Thornton with some through balls and creating circle entries, but without reward. Debatably against the run of play, Old Alex showed strength in numbers in the circle and won a short corner which was well converted and gave the home side a 1-0 lead.
Despite this swing in momentum, Ards were able to regain some control as Emma Reid commanded the back line alongside Rebecca Beggs at full-back, who put in a stellar performance in her first EY1 venture.
It was Ards who then capitalised on numbers in the circle, creating some chaos that allowed Pippa Best to slot in an equaliser before the end of the half.
The second half began with both sides exchanging attacks; Amy Benson was able to create chances using her pace on the right, and while the Oranges were unable to convert, the defensive line remained strong with tackles from Naomi Grundie and Alana Doyle.
Old Alex were awarded a stroke in the second half when a PC hit a foot on the line, but goalkeeper Naomi McKnight stepped up and beautifully saved Lena Tice’s attempt with her stick.
While Ards were able to hold out on the 1-1 scoreline until the end of the third quarter, the hosts jumped on the pressure they had built and managed to snatch a 2-1 lead in the opening minutes of the final quarter.
Yet again, Ards were able to dig deep and thanks to a great circle entry along the right byline from Ellen Robinson, they won themselves a penalty which was expertly converted by Zara Malseed to bring the scores level again.
The final two minutes saw Old Alex pushing for a goal, but Ards showed patience in their defence with the help of timely interceptions and tackles from Erin Getty and Lizzie Colvin, showing her experience after her absence last week.
As was the case seven days earlier, the game went to a shootout to decide the winner of the bonus point, with Ards demonstrating their lessons learnt from last week’s shootout loss in managing to snatch an extra point thanks to a great goal from Ellen Robinson’s second attempt and some superb footwork and a miraculous glove save from Naomi McKnight in sudden death.
Honours even at the Glade
JUNIOR LEAGUE 1
MOSSLEY LADIES 2XI 2
ARDS LADIES 2XI 2
ARDS Ladies Seconds had to settle for a share of the spoils after letting a two-goal lead slip in their Junior 1 clash with Mossley.
It was Ards who started the better of the two teams when a great steal off the press from Frankie McKnight followed by a clever cut back allowed Ruth Sutherland’s penalty corner to set up Sophie McGrath for a clever finish.
Vikki Reid then doubled their lead when she pounced on a loose ball in the circle to make it 2-0.
Mossley regained some composure in the second half and while Tara McCombe made some great defensive decisions alongside Becky Kirk, Mossley were able to find two goals in quick succession to level the score going into the final quarter.
The hosts struggled to cope with McGrath’s pace in midfield as well as some long balls from Sutherland and Kirk to the forwards, but despite great leads and pressing from Amy Crossman and Lucy Andrews up front, Ards were unable to capitalise on their attacking chances.
Mossley managed to create some chances of their own from tackles in the midfield line, and while the bounce of the pitch didn’t help, goalkeeper Mia Smyth was alert to the danger and was able to clear her lines. Both sides settled for a point each, with this a fixture the Oranges will be excited for on the return at Londonderry Park.
Leah leads Thirds to another win
JUNIOR LEAGUE 4
ARDS LADIES 3XI 3
DROMORE LADIES 3XI 0
ARDS Ladies Thirds felt the pressure to keep the momentum going from their 9-0 win over Coleraine the week before as they welcomed Dromore to Londonderry Park.
The home side went in front when Ellie Brown slipped the ball into the circle for a great one touch hit from Leah McClements which flew it into the back of the net.
Ards did not let up in their pace of play and from the restart won the ball back. Zara Dowds had a shot well saved by the Dromore ’keeper but McClements picked up the rebound and once again slammed home to double the lead.
Ards dominated the majority of the play during quarters two and three but were unable to capitalise on the amount of possession they had and missed several good opportunities, until Olivia Thompson rounded off the scoring following a run into the circle.
JUNIOR LEAGUE 8
ARDS LADIES 4XI 4
HOLYWOOD LADIES 2XI 1
IN THE late slot at home against Holywood on Saturday afternoon, it was Ards Fourths that started the stronger of the two sides, feeling confident on the back of their performance last week.
Claire Weston was quick to pile the pressure on the Holywood ’keeper, forcing an important early few saves from close in at the right post. There were more early attacks down both wings, with Sophia Beattie and Ruth Gorman running the left and Claire Weston and Beth Harper driving strongly down the right.
There was little the visiting goalkeeper could do about Weston’s powerful opener, and Ards doubled their lead in the second quarter as Daisy McGuigan slotted into the left-hand corner.
Shortly after, Holywood broke against the run of play with a well-placed high forward who found the back of the net to make the score 2-1 just before the end of the half.
The third quarter saw more attacking hockey from Ards, with Emma Dowds unlucky not to score from the left post following an important goal line save from the Holywood defence. Dowds saw a third goal overturned after that, but Ards’ attacking pressure eventually paid dividends with Joanne Gilliland in the perfect place to make the score 3-1 before the last quarter.
The Oranges were in full flow in the final quarter as they asserted their dominance. Philippa Wilson commanded the left hand side, linking excellently with Jenn Leitch and Joanne Gilliland, who was unlucky not to score her second from the back post.
With more short corners won in quick succession, Nina Robinson’s straight strike was hammered home to make the final score 4-1.
JUNIOR LEAGUE 12
ARDS LADIES 5XI 1
ANTRIM LADIES 2XI 4
AN EXPERIENCED Antrim Ladies Seconds side inflicted defeat on Ards Ladies Fifths last weekend.
The visitors had Ards on the back foot from the first whistle. Heather White marshalled the defence well and Hannah Simpson pulled off several great saves in the first quarter to keep the scores level at the break.
At the other end some strong running from Erin Ramsay and Anna McMillan tested the Antrim defence and with a bit of luck they could have taken the lead but a Claire Millar pass just evaded Anna McMillan’s stick on the far post.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern with the defence being kept very busy, but Annie McFerran made several good challenges to prevent circle entries whilst Heather White made a great clearance off the line. Just as it looked as if Ards would go into half-time all square, Antrim got the breakthrough when the ball rebounded to a forward, giving Hannah Simpson no chance in nets.
Ards tried to push forward more in the second half with Nicky Bailie and Amelia Rodger linking well in midfield and Zara Irvine making good runs down the left, but again the visitors’ defence held. They quickly scored their second and third goals in the following quarter and it could have been more, but for some great positioning and saves from Simpson.
Ards got their well deserved goal when Erin Ramsay was fouled in the circle and Maura Hennesey stepped up to convert the penalty stroke. In the final quarter it was Antrim who completed the scoring with a blistering shot from close in to run out 4-1 winners.
