After the disappointment of their home match against Teconnaught being conceded by the visitors a few days earlier, the U14 ladies from Warrenpoint travelled to Mayobridge last Wednesday evening (29th August) hoping for good run out in the final game of their U14 League.
Mayobridge had a tough outing against Downpatrick a few days earlier and were obviously out to make amends in the last league encounter of the season. Mayobridge started well and after some good pressure, got an early goal. The Blues from Warrenpoint then started to get into their stride and knocked over some points in reply. The first half remained a tight affair, with play flowing from one end of the pitch to the other. The home team managed to get a somewhat fortuitous second goal, after sterling work from Cara Bradley in goals had denied an initial shot, but the ball spun out straight to the feet of a Mayobridge forward, who finished coolly. A goal for the away side in the closing stages of the first half, ensured that the sides went into the half time break separated by just a couple of points, in favour of the home team.
After some motivational words from the management team at half time accompanied by some positional changes, the Warrenpoint ladies upped the tempo going into the second half. The play remained tight for a while into the second half until a ten-minute period where everything just seemed to drop in place for the visitors and they put away 5 unanswered goals in quick succession. Mayobridge were undaunted and continued to put together some very fine passages of play, which lead to regular points being scored. However, the damage had already been done, as far as the home side were concerned. Warrenpoint were able to put another couple of scores on the board in the closing moments of the match to run out eventually winners by 2-6 to 7-7.
Despite the somewhat one-sided score line, Mayobridge put in a fine display and the Warrenpoint Blues knew they had been in a tough match. Standards will have to be raised higher for the opening fixture of the 2018 Championship, against RGU Downpatrick next Sunday 9th September to be played in Milltown at 12.30pm.
