Lurgan draw with league chasers Money

Lurgan 1 Ballymoney 1

Lurgan showed their fighting qualities with this gritty performance against nearest rivals Ballymoney at the Junior High School on Saturday. They started strongly and were unlucky not to score in the third minute when Sarah McClure broke past two players fed a lovely ball to Amy Edwards and her cross into the circle was neatly deflected goalward by Emily McStea but the ball flashed inches past the post. Money are a dangerous team on the break and Lurgan keeper Susie Taylor was called upon to make a good stop in the 20th minute from a quick Money counter attack. Five minutes later Lurgan carelessly gave the ball away just outside their own circle and Money punished them with a neat finish at the far post. Undaunted Lurgan went on the offensive and replied inside two minutes when Chloe McCann steered the ball inside the far post after a good set up by Emily McStea. Attack and counter attack ensued as each side went in search of another goal but both defences stood firm and the teams went into the break level.
Money started the second half strongly and Susie Taylor made another great stop minutes into the half as the visitors broke quickly on the counter. Two minutes later Money had their own keeper to thank as she pulled off a good stop at a Charlene Hull penalty corner strike. Lurgan tried hard to engineer a breakthrough with Sarah McClure making some eye-catching runs but Money are a very experienced defensive unit and managed to repel several promising Lurgan situations. With time running out Lurgan were awarded a late penalty corner but the visiting defence stood strong and cleared a rebound off their keeper to relieve the situation. In the end a draw was probably a fair result but it doesn’t get any easier for Lurgan as next week they travel to Queens for a dangerous away fixture but they showed on Saturday that they have the qualities to meet this challenge.