Kerry at the double to fire Dromore into a tie at the top of the league table

Dromore Ladies are now tied at the top of the table thanks to a late 2-1 win over Lisburn Ladies.
Dromore Ladies are tied at the top of the table. INBL1522-210PBDromore Ladies are tied at the top of the table. INBL1522-210PB
Dromore Ladies are tied at the top of the table. INBL1522-210PB

Two goals from Kerry Taggart ensured the victory that draws Dromore level with Lisburn and Derry at the top of the league table.

It was a game of three goals, a couple of penalty claims and one of the best headed goals you could possibly see.

Lisburn started the brighter with their midfield players Murdough and Clews stamping early authority on the game.

Dromore goalkeeper Emma McClements had to make a couple of smart saves to keep the scores level after a hard-fought first half.

In the second half, Dromore soon made their pressure pay. A Dromore corner wasn’t cleared and young Niamh Ruddy whipped a stunning left footed cross over the home defence to Taggart who rose majestically and headed into the top corner of the net, leaving NI Under 19 goalkeeper Jessica Poots at full stretch but unable to reach the fantastic effort.

A fantastic save from goalkeeper McClements from a Hamilton free-kick preserved the away team’s lead as Lisburn pressed for an equaliser.

Dromore were now playing a more attacking game with Davis, Ruddy and Taggart seeing plenty of the ball but none of them could add to Dromore’s lead.

The Lisburn equaliser came around 15 minutes later and it wasn’t without controversy.

A high ball in midfield was contested by Dromore captain Tracy Orr, resulting in her being knocked to the ground and seemingly unconscious.

As the away team broke away some of the Dromore coaching staff ran into the pitch such was their concern for Orr.

Lisburn though, without the referee stopping play carried on and scored the controversial equaliser.

The away team surrounded the referee but to no avail, the game was now level.

The goal didn’t deflate the away team. In fact more the opposite as they pushed on looking to win the game. After a few minutes, it was obvious Orr couldn’t continue and Sorcha Nugent, who had replaced Lauren Gibson early in the second half, moved to sweeper in Orr’s place. Young Hannah Hughes replaced Orr and went up top with Taggart.

Dromore began to really press the home side and a couple of free-kicks from Brady had the goalkeeper scrambling across her line.

With ten minutes to go, Dromore forced another free-kick just inside the Lisburn half and Brady picked out Taggart with a perfect ball, which eluded the home defence. Kerry spun and slotted the ball home from inside the six yard box to the delight of the travelling side and their support.

Dromore almost made the win safe when Rachel Davis found herself free in the box but she pulled her shot wide of the post. The drama didn’t end there as substitute Hughes had a shot which just went over the cross bar.

Lisburn, to their credit, never gave up but the back line of Martin, Nugent, Smith and Brady along with McClements kept strong to end Lisburn’s unbeaten start to the season and move Dromore joint top of the league with Lisburn and Derry City on 12 points.

The Bookpeople Player of the Match went to two goal hero Kerry Taggart.

DROMORE: McClements, Smith, Orr, Martin, Brady, Douglas, Kelly, Gibson, Ruddy, Davis, Taggart. Subs: Nugent (Gibson), Hughes (Orr), Pearson.

Tomorrow (Wednesday), Dromore face an away trip to Belfast to play St Matthew’s which will be another hard game for the girls.

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