WHILST the Division 7 league campaign has drawn to a close, the Division 7 Cup has only just begun – and what a statement Coleraine Reserves have made in their opening fixture…
Facing off against Ards Rangers away from home, the Coleraine side delivered a dominant performance to secure a 4-1 victory and kick off their cup run in emphatic fashion.
From the first whistle, Coleraine looked the more composed and hungry side, controlling the early stages with slick passing and attacking intent. Kyla McGivern came agonisingly close to giving her side an early lead, narrowly missing the target with a powerful strike.
However, a moment of misfortune followed when Shakeera Doherty’s free kick led to a re-aggravation of an existing injury, forcing her off the pitch and prompting an early substitution. Annika Thompson stepped in, but the disruption seemed to galvanise Ards, who pounced on a rare lapse in Coleraine’s backline to take the lead midway through the first half.
The water break served as a timely reset, and Coleraine emerged with renewed focus. Hayley Mathieson – making her first outfield appearance of the season – combined brilliantly with Alex Bachman-Williams, who slotted home a confident finish to bring the sides level before the interval.
Coleraine carried that momentum into the second half and took full control of proceedings. The defence stood resolute, shutting down every Ards advance with a series of well-timed tackles and clearances. At the other end, Kyla McGivern made no mistake with her next opportunity, collecting a perfectly weighted through ball and unleashing a sublime curling shot into the top left corner to give Coleraine the lead.
Bachman-Williams then added their second of the match with a composed finish, further stretching Coleraine’s advantage. Goalkeeper Maebh Hikcey delivered a standout performance with several key saves, frustrating Ards and energising her teammates.
As the clock ticked down, Coleraine refused to sit back. One final attacking move culminated in Bachman-Williams completing their hat-trick, sealing a superb individual performance and capping off a well-deserved win.
It was a strong and spirited start to the cup campaign for Coleraine Reserves, who will now look to build on this momentum. If this display is anything to go by, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament ahead.
We would also like to wish our defensive player Doherty a speedy recovery and know that all the girls will be here to support you in doing so