Emma’s four star performance gives Dromore the points

ON a cold and damp evening last Friday Dromore Ladies Fourths set out for their second meeting of the season with Carrickfergus Ladies third XI.

The venue was Carrickfergus Leisure Centre astroturf, a really fine surface, and thankfully just as the game got underway the rain stopped which greatly enhanced the playing experience.

Dromore ladies won the toss and took the first touch of the game. Unfortunately, Carrick quickly gained possession and for the first ten minutes pushed hard at the Dromore defence.

The three young backs playing for Dromore, Sarah Wilson, Hayley McQuaid and Ellen Wright, showed wisdom beyond their years during this period and calmly dealt with everything that came their way.

Gradually Dromore began to turn the game around and developed some better attacking play. The Dromore hit-outs started to work through to the midfield players and Amy Glover on left midfield worked hard to deliver clever passes to Emma Johnston on left wing but the Carrick right back was able to contain any pressure.

Close to the end of the first half Megan McClean in centre midfield worked hard to recover a loose ball and slip it to Nicola Clements playing up in the centre forward position. Emma Johnston timed her run into the Carrick circle to perfection and she managed to collect the inch perfect pass from Nicola and slip the ball into the Carrick net.

Going into to half-time 1-0 up was just the confidence boost Dromore needed and after the break they came out focused and ready for action. Soon after the restart it was the Dromore girls on the attack again. This time play seemed to build more from the right with some superb sideline balls taken by Ellen Wright finding Andrea Wilson who combined well with Sarah Percy to work the ball into the Carrick twenty-five.

The ‘dream team’ of Clements and Johnston soon set to work again and within five minutes they had bagged two more goals for Dromore much to the girls delight.

The Carrick girls certainly didn’t let the pressure overwhelm them and turned the game around for a time breaking into the Dromore circle. They were able to win a short corner but to their dismay the first shot went high into the roof of the net and was disallowed.

A little while later Dromore found themselves defending another short corner and this time the shot was low and clean and the score became 3-1. Even though the end of the game was approaching the Clements/Johnston combo were still at work, they seemed to perfectly read each others intentions and when Emma picked up the ball in the circle again to the right of the goal she calmly drew the ball left past the stranded keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net.

It was the perfect end to the perfect game and when the final whistle blew the Dromore girls headed for home on a real high.

Dame of the Game most certainly went to Emma Johnston for her four goal tally but Nicola Clements must get a mention for her great control of the attacking line. Thanks again must go to Thomas Sturgeon for his sound umpiring on the night.

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