First half goals give Belfast Celtic Ladies win at Inver

Sep 30, 2020 | Archive

Two first half goals from Belfast Celtic Ladies saw them leave Inver Park on Tuesday night with all three points, despite a close encounter against William Noble’s home side.

The visitors struck in the opening minutes of the game when striker Leola McErlane broke through the Larne defence, spotting keeper Leanne Glass off her line, before shooting into the roof of the net to put the visitors 1-0 up.

From the restart Larne went on the press, when Kylie Doherty forced visiting ‘keeper Danielle Martin to make the save. Hannah Robinson’s rebound was in the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Twenty minutes in Larne were dominating the possession and won a free-kick on the edge of the box. After scoring a hat-trick in the previous game Georgia Crawford stepped up, but her low driven effort was narrowly wide of the post.

The visitors had a swift reaction to this near miss as they went on the counter attack through Bronagh Rooney. Her cross reached McLaughlin at the back post but her fumbled shot went wide.

From the goal kick Larne were back back on the front foot in search of an equaliser and it was great link up play in the midfield, with Kylie Doherty eventually shooting narrowly wide of the post.

On the stroke of half-time Belfast Celtic doubled their lead from a corner and it was Sara Louise McLaughlin who found the back of the net. After missing her chance early in the first half she made no mistake, tucking the header away to double the visitors lead on the stroke of the whistle.

Five minutes into the second half Larne almost got one back, as substitute Francesca Agnew played a wonderful switch of play to fellow substitute Jennifer Montgomery, but a Belfast Celtic defender intercepted the ball to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

Larne had another chance to get a goal back as substitute Jennifer Montgomery  received the ball from a Belfast Celtic corner, she raced down the right wing before playing a wonderful ball to Rebecca Boyce, but she was unable to keep possession on the edge of the box.

Larne were unable to make the breakthrough, as Belfast Celtic Ladies held on for the win. William Noble’s side now go into a busy weekend of two games in three days, with a trip to Mid Ulster coming up first on Friday Night.

Larne Ladies: Glass, McKenzie, Haveron (C), Noble, Cargill, Crawford, Robinson, Boyce, Hunter, Doherty, Morton

Substitutes: McGuken, Houston, Lynn, Montgommery, Agnew.

The player of the match was awarded to Ashton Hunter after a solid display at the back.

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