Victorious win for Lurgan!

Wednesday 9th March 2016.
Captain Charlene blasts Lurgan to within a point of title.
Lurgan Ladies 1sts are within a point of winning the Ulster Premier league following a huge win over third placed Randalstown. Lurgan are tied on 37pts with Belfast Harlequins although the Belfast side have a superior goal difference.
On Wednesday Lurgan travelled to the Glade to play Randalstown who had beaten them 2-1 a few weeks earlier. The home side started very strongly and had Lurgan at sixes and sevens in defence, Suzie Taylor made a couple of great saves and a few important tackles were made, then Emma Quinn somehow managed to deflect a high shot over the bar to keep the score line blank. Lurgan were giving away possession too easily and Randalstown sensed their nervousness and were relentless looking for the opening goal.
They thought they had taken the lead but it was notched off for a foot, this seemed to start Lurgan and they threatened when Phoebe Preston’s aerial down the line unlocked the home defence as Emily McStea penetrated the Town circle. Now it was game on, Sarah McClure and Carly Johnston had a few good runs forward from midfield. Lurgan looked to have taken the lead when Zoe Hawthorne got through a stick tackle by the home goalkeeper to finish a slick move down the right, but as the ball hit the back board the umpire awarded Lurgan the penalty corner. Half time came with the score at 0-0.
The start of the second half seen changes to the team, Emma Quinn, who was feeling unwell after a clash of heads with fellow team mate Kerri Burns was unable to continue so in stepped Amy Edwards, who, had played a school final that had went to strokes that afternoon, Amy delivered an assured performance at right back with Kerrie moving to centre back where she and Charlene Hull intercepted and tackled like Olympians. The youth of Amy Edwards, Jenny Morrow, Kathryn Edgar and Emily McStea were creating havoc down the right flank. Sarah McClure conjured up another mesmeric run to win another penalty corner. The umpires consulted but made the right decision despite the home side protesting. There was a hush as Kathryn Edgar prepared to inject, it was fast and accurate for Emma Lindsay to stop, control and roll for Charlene Hull to strike, the ball rocketed into the corner – 1-0 Lurgan. Randalstown are a quality side and a few minutes later they won a penalty corner, Kerrie Burns blocked the initial shot only for the rebound to be crashed home for 1-1.
Now the game was in the melting pot, there was no panic from Lurgan, they dug in and showed resolve before taking the game to Randalstown. Another penalty corner was won and rather than work a switch they stuck to a straight strike from the captain again, it deflected over the spread eagled Town goal keeper.1-2 Lurgan. The Lurgan defence were superb, snuffing out attacks and making blocks, Preston made a great one at a penalty corner and Burns hot footed it across the circle to block an effort from mid circle. The mid field and forwards were working so hard to stifle Randalstown and were showing much more composure to retain the ball. Another penalty was won after a run from halfway by Carly Johnston and Charlene took the opportunity to rattle the back boards for her hat trick 1-3.
Randalstown kept pushing but the Lurgan girls stuck to the task to defend as a unit and broke out of defence well on a few occasions led by their charismatic captain Hull. In the last 5 minutes Lurgan started to just keep possession and moved the ball about superbly waiting on the right moment to attack the circle. On the final whistle there were jubilant scenes as the girls and great travelling support breathed a sigh of relief.
Coach Robbie McMinn said after the game. ‘All 15 girls were magnificent tonight and showed heart and character to comeback so strongly in the 2nd half. Randalstown had beaten us twice this season, we threw it away at home so it means a lot to beat them here tonight. We will do all we can in the last two games to try and win the league’.