Dromore Ladies sweep aside hosts Limavady with superb performance

Dromore Ladies FC manager Davy Welshman hailed his sides ‘professional job’ as they swept aside their hosts Limavady in a midweek fixture.
Sarah Taylor and Tina Brush.Sarah Taylor and Tina Brush.
Sarah Taylor and Tina Brush.

BookPeople sponsored Dromore Ladies made the long journey to Limavady in their latest NIWFA Championship game on Wednesday 8th July.

After dropping five points in their last two games this was a must win for the ladies against a team struggling at the bottom of the table,

With injuries and holidays taking its toll, the ladies travelled with only 12 players and were bolstered by the new signings of Sarah Taylor and Tina Brush who both signed from Banbridge Town ladies in the transfer window.

From the off Dromore took the game to the home team and the deadlock was broken after only three minutes, a quality pass from Captain Orr found speedy winger Debs Douglas, who delivered a perfect cross for top scorer Kerry Taggart to sweep the ball into the net.

The front four of Douglas, Ruddy, Brush and Taggart were keeping the home defence deep in their own half as midfielders Gibson and Davis won the midfield battle.

With 13 minutes on the clock the ladies had their second, a great interception by DeDe Brady at left back and a through ball to Ruddy found the young winger run at pace at the home team finishing with a fantastic shot under the goal keeper.

Sensing the home teams weakness Dromore won the resulting re-start with Douglas again beating the full back and finding Taggart who duly dispatched her second goal of the game.

Brush then played a great pass to Davis whose inch perfect pass beat the home teams offside trap releasing Douglas who outpaced the defence to slot home her first goal for the ladies this season.

Five minutes later and the impressive Brush got her debut goal, as Taggart squared the ball to Brush who made no mistake from just outside the six yard box, a well deserved goal.

With five minutes remaining in the half the girls made it 6-nil when a great one two by Gibson and Taggart resulted in Brush hitting the ball first time into the far corner of the home teams net for her second of the game.

The scoring wasn’t finished there as young NI under 17 starlet Ruddy beat her marker and chipped the keeper from outside the box making the half time score Limavady 0 Dromore 7.

A short team talk saw Dromore emerge from the break determined to maintain the standards set in the first half.

On 55 minutes centre half Smith broke up a rare Limavady attack, as she strode out of the back line with the ball she found Brush who slipped the ball to Taggart who passed the ball around the keeper to complete her hat trick.

Seven minutes later and Taggart had her fourth as Douglas squared to Taggart to head into the empty net.

The outstanding Douglas then got her well deserved second goal after good work by Ruddy who picked her out inside the box.

With time running out Taggart got her fifth and Dromore’s 11th.

The scoring wasn’t finished there as with only a few minutes on the clock Brush completed her debut with a hat trick this time Taggart releasing her inside the box and the striker doing the rest.

Final score: Limavady 0 Dromore Ladies 12.

Team: McClements, Taylor, Orr, Smith, Brady, Douglas, Gibson, Davis, Ruddy, Brush, Taggart. Sub: Martin/

BookPeople Player of the Match: Debs Douglas.

Speaking after the game manager Davy Welshman said: “A very professional job done by the girls tonight after two poor recent results in the league.

“Whilst Limavady are struggling this year we have struggled to beat them, winning 2-0 away in the cup and 1-0 in the league.

“Tonight we introduced two new players in Taylor and Brush who only trained with the side on Monday but did enough to impress the coaching staff that they deserved to start. A decision which was rewarded with Tina scoring a hat trick and Sarah having a very solid game at the back.

“Debs Douglas was outstanding again for us with three assists and two goals, her pace caused all sorts of problems for the home team and I’m delighted for this very popular player who never misses training that she finally got her rewards on the pitch.

“Our focus now turns to the visit of Derry City at home on Wednesday 15th July, kick off 7.30pm at the Leisure Centre. We lost narrowly early in the season 2-1 away to Derry and with them neck and neck at the top of the league with Lisburn fighting it out for the title it will be another battle for the girls.

“Hopefully we will have a full squad available for the clash as we aim to upset their title challenge.”

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