1st XI Girls' - Schools’ Cup Hockey - Third Round

Ballyclare High v Friends' School

Saturday 9th December

Final Score - Ballyclare High School 2 - Friends' School 0

Ballyclare High reached the quarter final of the Schools’ Cup after a hard-earned 2-0 home win over Friends, Lisburn on Saturday morning.

Ballyclare started strongly, Rebecca Smith winning a free hit in a dangerous position after only two minutes. From a quick pass from Sharon Graham, Rebecca forced a smart save from the visiting goalkeeper. Immediately afterwards Louise Bell made a strong run down the right, and her pass was deflected narrowly past by Amy McConnell.

Carolynne Dougan won the first of Ballyclare’s seventeen penalty corners after four minutes, but a weak shot was easily cleared. A minute later another penalty corner resulted in Linzi Pollock’s well-struck shot going narrowly wide.

Rebecca Smith continued to torment the visiting defence, creating opportunities for the home side in potentially dangerous positions, but Ballyclare found it difficult to create clear goalscoring chances. The home defence was rarely called upon at this stage, although Lynsey McAllister made several impressive tackles to deny the visitors any platform from which to attack.

After 13 minutes a foul on Rebecca Smith led to the fifth penalty corner, and only another good save denied Linzi Pollock the opening goal of the game. A quickly taken free hit by Suzie Weir found Sharon Graham, who won another penalty corner, but another Ballyclare variation failed to penetrate the resolute and defiant Friends’ defence.

The introduction of Lauren Mawhinney, a member of the Ulster Under 16 team which recently won the Inter Provincial title under coach Dr Rainey, added a new dimension to the home attack, and her cross almost led to a chance for Amy McConnell.

With Friends continuing to deny the home side space in midfield, Ballyclare had to remain patient. On 25 minutes Suzie Weir combined with Sharon Graham, and from the resultant penalty corner Linzi Pollock was again thwarted by the in form Friends goalkeeper. Another sequence of penalty corners in quick succession saw Ballyclare try several variations, but none could provide the much-needed breakthrough.

With two minutes remaining in the half Amy McConnell forced another good save, and on the stroke of half time a Linzi Pollock penalty corner shot finally found the net but was rightly disallowed by the umpires.

Ballyclare began the second period in equally determined fashion, with Linzi Pollock beginning to feature more prominently in the home attacks. Louise Bell was also becoming more influential in attack, combining with Lyn Brown to win another penalty corner which was easily cleared.

Ten minutes into the second half Carolynne Dougan forced a good save from the Friends goalkeeper, who made another fine save from Sharon Graham from the resultant penalty corner. Rebecca Smith shot narrowly wide, as did Amy McConnell as the frustration grew for the home crowd.

The vocal Friends supporters did their best to encourage their team to resist the Ballyclare onslaught, while the home supporters continued to urge their players to be patient. And their perseverance was finally rewarded after an outstanding piece of individual play from their inspirational captain Sharon Graham. Louise Bell’s crisply struck clearance found Sharon in her own half of the pitch, from where she set off on a great run, evading several challenges before firing an unstoppable shot past the goalkeeper to give Ballyclare a deserved lead.

To their credit Friends responded positively to this setback and enjoyed their first spell of sustained possession in the Ballyclare half. However goalkeeper Rachel Aiken was not called into action as the home defenders withstood this brief period of pressure. With five minutes remaining, and Ballyclare again on the attack, Sharon Graham shot narrowly wide from another penalty corner, before Lauren Mawhinney scored the second, decisive goal to put Ballyclare through to the next round.

The Ballyclare girls have enjoyed some encouraging wins in recent weeks, and approached this cup tie in confident mood. However the sound advice of the coaching staff and the individual focus of the players ensured that complacency could not creep in to ruin this year’s cup challenge at this stage.

Ballyclare now look forward to the draw for the quarter finals, hopeful of progressing further than the last eight stage at which they lost to Omagh Academy last year.

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