Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.23 2021-22

Northern Ireland draw with Swiss

Northern Ireland 2 Switzerland 2
Northern Ireland senior women’s team secured another positive result in Marbella as they
drew 2-2 with Switzerland, striker Simone Magill netting both goals for the girls in green and
white.
It was Kenny Shiels' side's second friendly game at Marbella Football Center and the
senior women’s manager was pleased with the performance. He said: “I thought the
performance was very good, we were playing a top nation and we dominated the ball.”
Northern Ireland started brightly and found the back of the net just before the half
when Simone Magill ran from the centre circle all the way to the edge of the opposition’s box
before firing into the bottom corner.
The Swiss were right back into the game in the 51st minute when a defensive error gave
Alisha Lehmann an simple finish to make it 1-1.
Just four minutes later, Northern Ireland were behind when another misplaced pass
allowed the Swiss to go 2-1 up.
Shiels’ team were not fazed and pushed to find an equaliser. They were awarded a
penalty for a handball in the 72nd minute and Magill made no mistake from the spot to gain
Northern Ireland a well deserved point.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca McKenna (sub Abbie Magee 59mins), Demi
Vance, Sarah McFadden, Kelsie Burrows (sub Laura Rafferty 59mins), Rebecca Holloway
(sub Kirsty McGuinness 65mins), Chloe McCarron, Rachel Furness (sub Joely Andrews
87mins), Simone Magill (sub Caitlin McGuinness 87mins), Marissa Callaghan (sub Megan
Bell 65mins), Lauren Wade (sub Nadene Caldwell 65mins).
(irishfa.com)
Narrow defeat closes training camp

Northern Ireland 0 Romania 1
Northern Ireland’s senior women’s team brought their training camp in Spain to a close with
a narrow defeat. After easing past Faroe Islands 3-1 and then drawing 2-2 with Switzerland in
their previous two challenge matches during the 10-day camp on the Costa del Sol, they signed
off with a 1-0 loss to Romania.
They hit the woodwork a couple of times and controlled the play for long periods,
however they could not find the back of the net.
Kenny Shiels made four changes to his starting eleven for the game at the Marbella
Football Center, with Abbie Magee, Laura Rafferty, Nadene Caldwell and Kirsty McGuinness
coming in for Rebecca McKenna, Demi Vance, Kelsie Burrows and Rachel Furness, who all
started against the Swiss.
Romania forced a couple of corners in the early exchanges, while Northern Ireland’s
first chance came in the 14th minute and they almost opened the scoring. Chloe McCarron’s
shot was handled by a Romanian defender just outside the area and Kirsty McGuinness
stepped up to take the resulting free kick - and her crisp effort clipped the top of the bar.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns smothered a close range effort just a minute
later as the Romanians counter attacked.
Skipper Caldwell’s well struck shot from outside the area drifted wide of the upright as
the girls in green and white produced some bright link-up play, while a loose pass from Burns
almost let the Romanians in down the other end. Lauren Wade headed wide when she got on
the end of a McGuinness cross before Holloway clipped a shot past the post.

Issue no. 23 - 24 February 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk