Release Date: 10/03/2010

FERMANAGH Mallards secured a semi-final position in the Under 14 Tesco Cup following victory over Cappagh Spurs.

Cappagh Spurs started the game well, but went one down within seven minutes when Alice Hurst broke through the Cappagh defence and blasted the ball into the net. 

Five minutes later two goals in quick succession by centre forward Lyn Somerville put Cappagh in the driving seat. With the score at 2–1 Cappagh began to play some neat football and caused several problems along the Mallards backline.

On 20 minutes the impressive centre midfielder Kathryn Dane almost found the equaliser only for the ball to agonisingly come back off the crossbar.  

Dane turned provider in the 25^th minute when she played a delightful ball through the heart of the Cappagh defence which Hurst latched onto and hammered into the net bringing the score level at 2-2.  Seconds later Hurst got her hat-trick and put the Mallards in front when she curled the ball into the net from the edge of the 20 yard.

Half time score 3–2.

Cappagh pressed from the whistle, but were hit immediately on the counterattack by the Mallards who were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after Hurst was tackled from behind. Dane stepped up to take the resulting free-kick and swung it straight into the back of the net making the score 4–2.  Any realistic chance of a Cappagh fight-back was ended when Chloe Whitley ran unchallenged into the penalty box to slot home the ball from close range.

The game finished 5–2 in favour of Fermanagh Mallards and Kathryn Dane was voted ‘Tesco Player of the Match.’

Speaking after the match Mallards manager Sean Mallard said: “I was very pleased with the girls’ performance today. After a tentative first 10 minutes they settled down well and got on with the game and the strong defense denied Cappagh any further goals. Credit also goes to the rest of the team for keeping the pressure on up front and extending our lead.  A good all round performance by the whole team.”

Mallards will now meet Lisburn Ladies in the semi-finals with the 1st leg scheduled for Saturday 20 March.

« Go Back