NIFL Danske Bank Women's Premier League
Wednesday 4th May at Mid Ulster Arena
Mid Ulster Ladies V Glentoran BU
Glentoran who were missing a few regulars took a 2nd minute lead through a Kelly Bailie free kick from 40 yards. Following this goal, Mid Ulster dominated play for periods but the Glentoran defence stood firm with Bailie prominent.
Glentoran began to work their way into the game and almost doubled their lead when a Wade in swinging corner caused panic in the Mid Ulster defence with a defender heading the ball against a post. In a further attack, an Amy Burden shot caught keeper Ferson by surprise and she was glad to parry the shot over the bar. In another close call for adding to their tally a Kelly Bailie free kick was headed just past the post by Katie Martin. But as half time approached Mid Ulster pressed for the equaliser with a number of quick break attacks but found Glentoran keeper Ashleigh McKinnon and her defenders hard to beat.
Mid Ulster put Glentoran under sustained pressure early in the second half but again McKinnon was equal to their efforts. The Glens were content to hit Mid Ulster on the break and in one of these Lauren Wade curled effort just past Ferson left post. In the 55th minute the referee awarded Mid Ulster a penalty kick when he adjudged Kelly Bailie to have brought down Connolly despite the ball going out of play for a throw in. Connolly took the penalty and scored to make it 1-1. This set back seemed to upset the Glentoran players for a period as they almost allowed Connolly in to score but McKinnon cut out her shot.
Mid Ulster had their tails up and were pressing hard but couldn’t gain the upper hand over a resilient Glentoran team who were determined not to be pushed back. The was battle for control of midfield was a feature of the second half with Kelly and McCarron prominent for Mid Ulster while Glentoran's Katie Martin and Rachel Rogan, who was playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, were making life just as difficult for the two N.I. Internationals. As the game wore on Glentoran were proving very dangerous on the break with Lauren Wade and Jess Foy constant threats on the left wing. In the 88th minute this threat paid off when a through pass caught out the Mid Ulster defence and Wade was brought down by keeper Ferson resulting in a penalty award. Jess Foy's penalty was saved low to the right by Ferson who then managed to save Wade's rebound shot and defenders cleared the danger.
From the penalty clearance Mid Ulster went on the counter and McCarron fed Kelly who struck a fine shot into the top corner to make the score 2-1 to Mid Ulster. With only seconds left to try to get something from the game Bailie went on a mazy dribble and her long range shot drifted wide of Ferson's left hand post.