Randalstown entertained Raphoe at the Antrim Forum on Saturday afternoon in a Women’s Premiership League Match.
Report and images by Nick Murray.
Both sides started brightly, attacking and spending equal time in the opposition half. After just 5 minutes, Randalstown draw first blood with Megan Cochrane slotting home.
The first quarter comes to an end, with both teams having spells of possession, but with Randalstown edging it with the single goal.
Randalstown start brightly in the second period, but several times their efforts are thwarted by Raphoe’s, Lisa Patterson.
A great run and ball retention by Aimee Tessier on the right, led to a short corner, quickly followed by another. As the ball was played into a crowd, Tessier popped up to score Randalstown’s second of the afternoon and received the well deserved congratulations from her team-mates.
Similar to the period after the first goal, Raphoe applied sustained pressure deep in the Randalstown territory half, but it was broken up by Cochrane who combined well with Zoe Andrews down the left.
Raphoe continue to battle and enjoy good periods of possession in the opponents half, but solid defending by Randalstown’s ‘keeper Trish Neill keeps score at 2 – 0 as the teams change ends.
Only a couple of minutes into the second half and Randalstown play the ball back in their own half, and into trouble. Raphoe’s Lindsey Tinney takes advantage, and further pressure sees Leanne Patterson get the away side back into the contest at 2 – 1.
Randalstown get into a rhythm at the start of the final quarter only to be repelled by a determined Raphoe defence with the excellent Lisa Patterson leading efforts.
Both sides look to be feeling the heat and the game becomes centred around the middle of the park with neither side making much headway as the match peters out without further incident giving a 2 – 1 win to Randalstown.
