COLERAINE Women kept up their hopes of promotion from NIWFA Division 2 after a 4-2 success against Ballyclare Comrades Ladies Reserves last night…
Coleraine started brightly and quickly asserted their authority on the game, with their blend of experience and quality evident from the opening whistle.
The breakthrough arrived when Alex Bachman-Williams spotted an intelligent run from Shannon Friel and delivered a perfectly weighted ball over the Ballyclare defence. Friel showed great pace to beat the centre-backs and calmly finished past the goalkeeper to give Coleraine a deserved lead.
Coleraine doubled their advantage soon after through another moment of quality from Bachman-Williams. Her excellent switch of play found Chelsea Moore on the right, who delivered a dangerous ball across the box for the in-form Friel to finish confidently. The strike took Friel’s impressive season tally to 17 goals for the campaign.
The third goal came following strong pressing from Norah McCullough, who intercepted a Ballyclare goal kick and quickly fed Faye Colley. A 50-50 challenge between Colley and the goalkeeper saw the ball break loose outside the area, where Moore reacted quickest to drive a low strike into the bottom corner.
Friel came agonisingly close to completing her hat-trick before half-time when a superb effort rattled the crossbar. However, Coleraine’s fourth goal arrived courtesy of another standout moment from Bachman-Williams. After weaving past several defenders, she was brought down just outside the penalty area. Picking herself up, she stepped over the resulting free kick and unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, giving the Ballyclare goalkeeper no chance.
At the opposite end, captain Shairee McVey led by example, using her experience to organise the defence superbly. Alongside Beth Grant, Rachel Stewart and Kyla McGivern, the back line stood firm and dealt effectively with Ballyclare’s attacking threats. Behind them, Aoife McAteer was alert throughout, confidently sweeping up loose balls and coming off her line when required.
Ballyclare responded early in the second half when a contentious free kick was awarded on the edge of the area, allowing the visitors to pull a goal back. A second free kick from a similar position soon followed. McAteer produced an outstanding fingertip save, but the ball rebounded off the crossbar and fell kindly for the Ballyclare striker to convert from close range as the scoreline was now 4-2 in Coleraine’s favour.
Despite the visitors’ rally, the Bannsiders continued to create chances of their own. Zara Corrigan threaded an excellent through ball into the path of Friel, whose low effort was well saved by the goalkeeper. Shortly afterwards, Moore delivered a pinpoint cross that Friel narrowly glanced past the post.
With momentum shifting and the contest becoming increasingly physical, Coleraine demonstrated excellent game management to see out the remainder of the match. It was a hard-fought and thoroughly deserved three points that leaves the girls in blue and white within touching distance of promotion.
Coleraine’s final game of the season takes place next Friday, August 21, away to Ballyclare. Get down and support the girls in blue and white as they look to finish the campaign in style.