Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.9 2022-23

Glentoran 2 Sion Swifts 1
Glentoran Women made it four Electric Ireland Women's Challenge Cup triumphs in a
row with victory over Sion Swifts Ladies at the National Football Stadium at Windsor
Park.
A somewhat tentative opening to proceedings saw both sides sound each other out.
As play progressed Glentoran began to assert themselves more and fired a warning shot
on 23 minutes when Kerry Beattie volleyed just wide of the target from a Jessica Foy set
piece.
That proved to be a sign of things to come when, five minutes later, Foy opened the
scoring with a superbly executed free kick into the top left corner from just outside the
right side of the area.
Then, barely five minutes after that, Sarah Tweedie showed great vision to spot a
Joely Andrews run and delivered the perfect ball for the Northern Ireland international
to unleash a right foot shot beyond Jennifer Currie from around 12 yards out.
However Sion didn't let their heads drop, and might have pulled one back on 40
minutes when Aimee Neal flicked a backwards header just over the top from Kerry
Brown's left sided corner.
They came even closer in first half stoppage time when Cora Chambers and
Caoirse Doherty combined for the latter to send her effort just the wrong side of the
upright after keeper Ashleigh McKinnon had committed herself.
Glentoran looked to add to their tally after the break, coming close on the hour
after Foy threaded Caragh Hamilton through but Currie did well to close down the danger.
Hamilton came even closer a short time after that only to send a rasping effort
from outside the area against the crossbar.
Further efforts followed with Andrews spotting an opening but could only lift the
ball over from 20 yards while, on 69 minutes, Currie got a vital touch to direct a Beattie
shot just wide.
Needing a couple of goals to force extra-time Sion upped the ante in the closing
stage and were unlucky on 84 minutes when Naomi McLaughlin's left foot drive from
the edge of the area was tipped onto the bar.
Then, with two minutes remaining, the Co. Tyrone side set up a grandstand finish
after Naomi McLaughlin clipped the ball forward for substitute Tara O'Connor-Farren
to control and send a brilliant finish past the Glentoran keeper.
However, it wasn't enough to spark a late leveller as Glentoran held on to claim yet
another piece of silverware.
Glentoran Women: Ashleigh McKinnon, Jessica Foy, Emma McMaster, Nadene
Caldwell (sub Shannon Dunne 83mins), Rachel Rogan (sub Casey Howe 57mins),
Caragh Hamilton, Joely Andrews, Kerry Beattie, Kelly Bailie, Sarah Tweedie (sub
Jenna McKearney 65mins), Chloe McCarron. Subs not used: Megan Neill, Michelle
McDaid.
Sion Swifts: Jennifer Currie, Aimee Neal, Naomi Donnan, Tasmin McCarter, Kelly
Crompton, Teegan Lynch, Cora Chambers (sub Ciarah Quigg 78mins), Naomi
McLaughlin, Aoibhe O'Neill (sub Tara O’Connor-Farren 64mins), Kerry Brown,
Caoirse Doherty. Subs not used: Caoimhe Walsh, Amy McFarland, Niamh Coyle.
(irishfa.com)
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