Dixon goal lifts Ballyclare from foot of the table
Hockey
Ballyclare Ladies 1
Priorians 0
A SOLITARY strike by Karen Dixon against Priorians lifted Ballyclare Ladies off the bottom of the table for the first time this season.
After losing several key players Nikki Kempton's girls have been struggling all season with only one previous Senior League Section 1 win, but this result at Foundry Lane now leaves Kilkeel Ladies on the bottom rung, two points adrift.
With both defences in top form there was no scoring in the first half, during which Vikki Robinson and her opposite number each had to make fine saves.
With Caroline Darragh, Lorraine Ashcroft and Rebekah Mills supreme in the engine room, the home team had marginally the better of the exchanges after the interval, but a scoreless draw seemed the likely outcome until ten minutes from time.
A penetrating run by Rebekah Mills took play towards the Priorians circle, where she linked with Tori Wallace, who set it up for Karen Dixon to break the deadlock, and secure all three more than welcome points.
Ballyclare Ladies panel: V Robinson, N Kempton (C), G McMaw, C McGookin, L Ashcroft, R Mills, E Patterson, C Darragh, V McKinty, T Munn, D Henry, K Dixon, K Bryson, T Wallace.
Seconds: End to end play was the order of the day when Ballyclare Ladies II and Ballymoney Ladies II clashed at Foundry Lane in a Junior League fixture.
Both teams are in secure mid-table positions, but the 'Money girls had already thrashed the locals in the McConnell Shield earlier in the season, so revenge was high on the agenda.
With impressive midfielder, Julie Cooke, sidelined with a fractured toe, recent recruit Jacqui Hanley came in at centre link where she acquitted herself well.
Ballymoney showed up better in the early stages, but found Janice Jordan and Lauren McCracken to be in top form in defence, with Sara Coulter in goal also giving nothing away.
Most of Ballyclare's attacks emanated from Joanne Cooke who impresses week in week out at right link, and from her promptings Nicole McConnell and Sophie Roy tested the visiting goalie.
During a period of attacking play several penalty corners were forced, but on each occasion the north Antrim goalie was equal to the task, until beaten approaching the interval, when Joanne Cooke completed a dazzling solo run down the wing, before rounding the keeper and stroking the ball in to the unguarded net.
Play was mainly towards the 'Money goal during the second session, but despite having several more penalty corners Ballyclare were unable to kill off the game, and paid the penalty when Ballymoney rammed in the equaliser form a penalty corner.
In a tense finish Jessica West had a couple of penetrating runs, but the defence held out to deny Janice Wilson's girls a win.
Ballyclare II panel: S Coulter, J Hanley, L McCracken, J Wilson (C), J Jones, J Cooke, S Roy, L Curley, N McConnell, J West, J Wilkin.
Thirds: The 3rd XI travelled to Ards with an understrength side, but still managed to share the spoils in a Junior League fixture in a scoreless draw.
In the absence of a regular goalkeeper Isabel Hutchinson and Bryony Aiken volunteered to share the goalkeeping duties, and each was delighted to return a clean sheet.
Ballyclare Ladies III: B Aiken, I Hutchinson, C Weatherup, M Weatherup (C), L McCullough, R Phillips, S Carmichael, E McDonald, T Gilpin, J West, S Warwick.
Weekend fixtures: 1st XI v Omagh, away; 2nd XI v Armagh II, away; 3rd XI v Lisnagarvey IV, away.
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Weather for Newtownabbey
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
