Raphoe 1st XI Ladies made the two hour trip to Belfast yesterday to take on Victorians 1st XI Ladies at Queens playing fields.
They started the brighter of the two teams with Raphoe exerting a lot of pressure on Victorians in the opening 10 minutes.
However Victorains were first to break the deadlock, when a long hit out from the Vics defender, broke through Raphoes high press, giving the Victorains forward a one on one with Raphoe keeper Denise Mc Elhinney. She rounded the keeper and passed to the oncoming forward who calmly slotted the ball into the open net.
The momentum switched to the home team but Raphoe dug deep and continued to plug away and with dogged determination won themselves numerous short corners and well placed frees but to no avail. Leanne Patterson was awarded a 2minute sinbin for not retreating the 5 yards and with 10 players Raphoe sat back allowing Victorains into the game but they were unable to break the defence of Victoria Wray, Lyndsey Tinney, Sarah Boal and Arlyne Kilpatrick. The half ended 1-0 to Victorains.
After a strongly worded and motivational team talk from coach Richard Tinney, Raphoe started the stronger of the 2 teams.
They had great inter-locking play from the back line through to the front putting the pressure on the Vic’s keeper, but she was on form and made some fine saves with the defenders sweeping the ball clear from the incoming danger of the Raphoe sticks.
The Victorains captain made some driving runs at the Raphoe defence but with the help from the midfield of Rachel Buchanan, Esther Hume, Sarah Patterson, Leanne Patterson and Shannon Porter they stood strong and the Raphoe keeper was not tested throughout the second half.
The equaliser came in the 24th minute, when Esther Hume passed square to Lyndsey Tinney who drilled the ball into the D, where Kimberly Porter met the ball and fired home. Raphoe continued to press with some fine runs down both the left and right hand sides, with the Raphoe forwards of Sabrina Barnett, Kimberly Porter, Katy Love running into space to create holes for their teammates.
Vics were rattled and a few players were sin binned for various offences including mouthing at the umpires. The winning goal came 7 minutes from time, when Sarah B passed down the left line to Rachel B who found Shannon Porter open high in the Victorains half. Porter drove the back line and passed to S Barnett who reversed the ball into the net.
With Raphoe 2-1 up & Vic’s tiring, Raphoe continued to press, hitting the post and shooting just wide on a few occasions. The last few minutes saw both sides breaking but the game ended 2-1 to Raphoe.
Players: Denise Mc Elhinney, Victoria Wray, Lyndsey Tinney, Arlyne Kilpatrick, Sarah Boal, Louise Moran, Shannon Porter, Esther Hume, Sarah Patterson, Rachel Buchanan, Kimberly Porter, Sabrina Barnett, Leanne Patterson, Wendy Patterson.
Coach: Richard Tinney.
Elsewhere, Raphoe 2nd XI Ladies played Derg valley 2nds at home on the grit at the Royal and Prior. The local derby saw Raphoe come out on top, winning 2-0. Goals game from Helen Lecky during a well worked short corner and from Liffey Mckinney in the dying moments of the game.
Next week Raphoe 1st entertain Ballyclare at the Royal and Prior.
Elsewhere, Raphoe 2nd XI Ladies played Derg valley 2nds at home on the grit at the Royal and Prior. The local derby saw Raphoe come out on top, winning 2-0. Goals game from Helen Lecky during a well worked short corner and from Liffey Mckinney in the dying moments of the game.
Next week Raphoe 1st entertain Ballyclare at the Royal and Prior.
