| 2nds v Victorians 2nds |
| Saturday, 06 November 2010 19:56 | |||
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Lurgan 2nds played host to Victorian’s 2nds this week in the league. Before the match began, both teams stood together in the middle of the pitch to join in a minutes silence in memory of Charlene Barr. Lurgan 2s were determined to continue their winning streak but the fact that Victorians have yet to win a match all season, did not mean that Lurgan were going to have things all their own way. From the first whistle, it became very apparent that Victorians were playing a very defensive game and Lurgan were finding that their attacking balls were being flooded by sheer numbers from the opposition. It was Victorians who got the first shot at goal from a breakaway run, but this was skilfully saved by Eilleen Mitchell and Lurgan continued to bombard the Victorian’s defence. Lurgan were successfully spreading the ball thoughout the width of the pitch with great teamwork between Vicky Donaldson, Zoe Dennison, Rose Montgomery and Linzi Dodds. Ellen Mullen worked well with Heather Bell  and this combination resulted in a brilliant display of short passing and finished off with a slip to Gemma McBride who hammered the ball into the back of the net to give Lurgan the lead. Bell continued throughout the game to display some exceptional runs demonstrating her adept stick work which created a wealth of opportunities for Lurgan upfront.Mullen and McBride made some proficient interceptions and won a number of free hits on the edge of the circle, while Lyndsey Andrews remained solid on the sweep, picking up any loose balls from Victorians and confidently carrying them forward in her trademark break from defence. Andrews carried the ball and passed to Penny Joyce who made a reverse stick strike at goal and shot wide. Donaldson and Dennison continued to pick out possession from Victorians with accurate jabbing tackles and laid the ball expertly into attack as Dodds made some high impact runs down the right hand side of the pitch. Tireless work in mid field from Kim Scott, Montgomery, Nichola Thompson and Jade Marshall maintained constant pressure on the flooded Victorian defence. Throughout the first half Lurgan were unable to monopolise from two penalty corners and the score line remained 1-0 at half time. 
The second half saw Victorians starting strongly, forcing Dennison, Donaldson, Morrison and Thompson to defend well. Bell’s slinky stick work bamboozled the opposition and Joyce made a great run towards the top of the circle. Scott displayed some skilful tackling, passing to Dodds but Lurgan were finding the flooded defence in the Victorians circle very difficult to penetrate.
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