Two great wins for Mid Ulster girls

The summer weather dictated that the game was switched to the 3G pitch after the grass pitch was declared unplayable but the good surface suited both teams style of play.

Lurgan kicked off and immediately showed that this was going to be no easy game with some nice passing and possession and an early shot to test Jacqueline Burns.

Mykylea Stewart made her return to action for Mid Ulster and her partnership in mid field with Hayley O’Donnell was providing a platform for Mid Ulster’s attack to push on.

Rebecca Bassett was in on goal but the Lurgan stopper was smartly off her line to cancel out the threat.

The first corner saw Mykylea Stewart get her head on the ball but the effort went just wide. Further pressure by the home team followed with Cathy Rees and Sarah Connolly threatening but the final ball just wasn’t forthcoming.

Lurgan were also showing a real threat on the counter, Claire Rooney and her backline needing to be on their toes as an entertaining half finished all-square so it was all to play for in the second half.

Mid Ulster pressure was to pay off when Chloe Orr’s fine run released Sarah Connolly who made no mistake with her finish 1-0 on 50 minutes.

Substitutions followed for Lurgan as they enjoyed a spell of possession before forcing Jacqueline Burns into a smart save low to right.

Sharagh Murphy replaced Sarah Connolly and was immediately involved in the action but her shot lacked the power.

Another good strike from Lurgan was tipped over, the Mid Ulster support right to be nervy with only a goal between the sides.

With 86 minutes played the result was put out of doubt as Claire Rooney’s fine ball found Rebecca Bassett with another fine strike, 2-0 and Mid Ulster into next round.

Team: J Burns, E McFarland, C Rooney, L Richardson, C Orr, H O’Donnell, M Stewart, C Rees, S Connolly (S Murphy), R Bassett.

It was back to league duty on Wednesday as Mid Ulster travelled to Ashfield boys’ school to play Glentoran BU.

Rachael Rodgers came back into an otherwise unchanged side in the search for some valuable league points.

Mid Ulster were finding the distance on a very fast surface and some good balls through were just too heavy

The front pairing of Bassett and Connolly were causing the Glentoran back line all kinds of problems and they capitalised on a defensive error, a poor headed clearance picked up by Sarah Connolly who tucked the ball past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.

Glentoran got the bit between their teeth and forced three corners in quick succession but the game was end to end and no-one would have thought that this was both teams’ second match in three days as the energy levels were fantastic, the game finishing Glentoran 0 Mid Ulster 1.

Team: J Burns, C Rooney, K Donnell, L Richardson, R Rodgers, H O’Donnell, M Stewart, C Orr, R Bassett, C Rees, S Connolly (E McFarland), R Bassett.

Next matches are Cliftonville away on Monday and Crusaders at the Mid Ulster Sports arena on Wednesday 20th.