GIRLS UNDER 16 LEAGUE: STRAND CELTIC 1 DROMORE VILLA 0
Strandhill Community Park
Our girls under 16 team got their title winning quest off to a good start with a home win over title tivals Dromore Villa at Strandhill Community Park. Our goal scorer was Emma Hansberry.
Our under 16 girls finally opened their 2010 league campaign with a hard fought victory over old rivals Dromore at Strandhill Community Park on Saturday last.
The visitors settled first and took the game to strand putting pressure on our back four.Full backs Ashling Gilgan and Leah Kerrigan were ever tenacious in defence and strong play from centre-half Aisling Brenan and sweeper Claire Horan ensured that strand's stand-in keeper Lisa Melly was not unduly troubled.Fifteen minutes in and Strand's central midfield pairing of Emma Hansberry and Niamh Kelly began to assert their strength and skill in shifting the balance of play and territory to the home side.
Good individual performances from both the aforementioned were key in generating incisive attacks along the flanks wherer Edel Sheerin and Karen Frahill worked tirelessly to create advantage.Dromore were up for the task and defended in numbers so that strand's front pair of Rachel Norman and Lauren McGee had to work hard for little reward.Strand were restricted to shots from distance from Emma Hansberry and Edel Sheerin which were dealt with by a very capable Dromore keeper.
The second half continued where the first left off with Strand camped in the Dromore half but unable to convert their play into scores.An intelligent effort from Emma Hansberry to lob the keeper from distance was matched only by a fine save.Dromore still posed a threat with the occassional break but consistent good work from Stand's back four kept them at bay.The quality of the home sides passing improved as the game progressed and,after putting lauren McGee through on goal only for the keeper to clear,Emma Hansberry seized the ball thirty yards out and drove a stinging shot into the corner of the net to give Strand the lead with only seven minutes remaining.
This was a stern test for the Strand Celtic girls and they came through with flying colours and are looking forward to the season ahead .