SENIOR LEAGUE 3
DONAGHADEE LADIES 4
HOLYWOOD LADIES 2
GOALS from Kathy Cunningham and Katie McHugh weren’t enough as Holywood Ladies suffered defeat to Donaghadee in an early-season clash at Bangor Grammar.
Donaghadee started strongly, passing intelligently and running well off the ball. They were rewarded when Leanna McGimpsey-Young received the ball on the 25-metre line and with the Holywood defence failing to close her down, she hammered the ball home from just inside the circle.
Holywood fought back bravely with captain Karen Kennedy leading from the front. They won a penalty corner from which Kathy Cunningham levelled the scores at 1-1 with a direct strike.
Donaghadee took the game to the visitors again and re-established their lead with an excellent penalty corner deflection at the left post.
Jill Gordon at right-back for Holywood mounted counter attacks intelligently while Sarah Baker, Laura Todd and Rachel Gowdy kept the ’Dee defence busy. Ellen Gilpin worked hard to thwart Donaghadee pressure, as did her sister Holly at the back.
But it was Donaghadee who gained the upper hand and scored from a further penalty corner to go into half-time with a 3-1 cushion.
Holywood made some effective tactical changes and dominated the third quarter with swift ball distribution and accurate execution. After good work between Lucy Cunningham, Jill Gordon and Rachel Gowdy, the ever-dangerous Katie McHugh beat the ’keeper from close range to reduce the deficit to 3-2 and give Holywood renewed hope.
Donaghadee raised their level in the last quarter of this very entertaining game and despite sterling work from Holywood’s defence, ably led by Nicky Burns, they managed to penetrate Holywood’s circle again and win a penalty corner from which they scored with a deflected goal from around the penalty spot.
There was still drama to come as Holywood’s renewed efforts in attack left them open at the back and Donaghadee’s centre forward exploited this with a great run. She received an excellent pass to leave her one on one with Holywood ’keeper Clare Blankley, who crowned an excellent performance by standing up to the attacker, narrowing the angle and making an excellent save off her chest when the ball was drilled goalwards.
Donaghadee ran out deserved 4-2 winners with Holywood left to reflect on some excellent passages of play, but also much they could learn from. Holywood’s player of the match was Jill Gordon and she thanked Abbie Monaghan for umpiring and the loyal supporters for their encouragement.
The ladies’ next match is against Newry at Sullivan Upper School at 1.30pm on Saturday.
