COLERAINE Women FC’s first team took to their home pitch for the final time in the 2025 Division 2 season, facing off against the ever-competitive 22nd Ladies…
With emotions high and plenty to play for, the match delivered a thrilling and hard-fought battle right until the final whistle.
From the outset, Coleraine showed their intent. Pressing high and brimming with energy, the home side controlled the tempo early on. Key to their dominance were the tireless runs and sharp attacking movements from Shannon Friel and Charlotte McAllister, who continually stretched the 22nd Ladies’ defence.
Their efforts paid off when a well-placed ball found Sam Miskimmon in space. Although her strike was parried by the visiting keeper, Chelsea Moore was on hand at the far post to fire home the rebound, giving Coleraine a deserved early lead.
But the joy was short-lived. The visitors responded swiftly with a clinical finish of their own, levelling the match at 1-1 before the break despite Coleraine’s continued pressure and sharp midfield play.
The second half mirrored the first, with relentless effort from the midfield pairing of Lucy Hollies and Alex Bachman-Williams, who broke up play and launched several counterattacks.
In defence, Niya McIntyre, Shairee McVey, Rachel Stewart, and Leah Pollock stood firm, repelling wave after wave of opposition pressure. Some incredible breakthrough runs from both Stewart and McVey showed the quality of our powerhouse centre back duo. Hayley Mathieson also had some incredible saves from earlier chances from the opponents.
However, fortune favoured the 22nd Ladies when a fortunate bounce and quick break saw them sneak through the back line to grab a second goal and take the lead.
Despite the setback, Coleraine’s heads never dropped. Substitutions injected fresh energy in Eve Anderson, Kyla McGivern, Tina Connor and Lindsay Norton, but the commitment from every player on the pitch remained unwavering.
Multiple free kicks went Coleraine’s way in dangerous areas, yet the finishing touch continued to elude them. Some excellent passages of play—from defence to midfield and out to the wings—highlighted the skill and togetherness of this squad, even as time began to run out.
In the dying minutes, a clever through ball from Moore picked out Miskimmon, who smartly threaded it to Norton. Just as she looked poised to burst through, a foul halted the move, resulting in one final set-piece opportunity. An unbelievable kick from Moore flew into the box, where Bachman-Williams rose highest to meet the cross with a powerful header, but it skimmed just wide—agonisingly close to an equaliser.
As the final whistle blew, the 2-1 scoreline felt cruelly unreflective of Coleraine’s efforts. Yet, there was nothing but pride to be taken in a performance that showcased heart, determination, and togetherness—qualities that have defined the team all season.
Division 2, 2025 may be over, but Coleraine Women FC walk away with heads held high, a team to watch, and one that has been an absolute pleasure to coach, play for, and support.