Derg Valley Ladies seconds through to Minor Cup semi-finals
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Melanie Sproule attempts to control a ball in midfield during Derg Valley Ladies Hockey Club’s seconds 3-0 home win over Priorians thirds in the quarter-final of the Minor Cup on Saturday. SU0621CC
Derg Valley II 3. Priorians III 0.
DERG Valley Ladies Hockey Club seconds reached the semi-finals of the Minor Cup on Saturday after beating higher league opposition, Priorians thirds, 3-0 in the last eight at Castlederg High School.
The Derg girls were on the back foot from the whistle and the visitors capitalised on this, putting their defence under early pressure. However, quick reactions from Stewart and Forbes ensured that any early chances were neatly cleared.
The home side responded positively and started to interlink some excellent passes through the midfield of Nelson, Milligan and Hamilton. They were soon rewarded for their patience and possession with the ball, when Boggs, who had the ball on the right, picked out M Sproule, poised on the edge of the area. M Sproule picked up the pass and after one controlling touch hammered the opening goal down the right side of the keeper.
The second half started with the same momentum, with the Derg girls in fine form. Hamilton, on the right, made a blinding run down the wing - a quick look up saw her pick out M Sproule on the edge of the Priorians 'D', and she chipped the ball past the keeper's left shoulder for a goal of the season contender. The visitors regrouped and started to break with the ball into the Derg '25'. On several occasions the defence of Mortland, Stewart, Forbes, L Milligan and Rankin had to pull off some great tackles to thwart any chance on goal, with Patterson only having to make a handful of saves to keep the Derg girls ahead.
This only fired up the home team and they started to build pressure on the Priorians midfield again. A swift pass from J Milligan, in midfield, into the visitors 'D', resulted in another short corner. The push-out from Mortland found Boggs, who was under immediate pressure from the advancing defence, and she released the ball back to Mortland who scored the third goal of the match by slotting it neatly around the back of the keeper.
The game was stopped five minutes from time due to two injuries to Priorians girls.
The semi-final will be played on February 25.
Derg captain, Patterson, commented after the game on the positive commitment and determination the Derg girls showed throughout the game, and also wished to thank Ethel McClelland and Marina Lindsay for umpiring, and also to the supporters who attended the match.
Derg Valley II: Patterson (cpt), Stewart, Forbes, Mortland, L Milligan, Hamilton, J Milligan, Boggs, Darragh, Rankin, D Sproule, M Sproule and Nelson.
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