St Roch’s Ladies 3
Mags McKenna, Caz Docherty 2
East Kilbride 1
OG
The ladies leagues are heading into the final run of seven games following Sunday’s tie against East Kilbride so it was important that the Roch’s secured a good result to stay in the mix with the top four teams.
The ladies started off at a good tempo and immediately took the game to the visitors with some positive passing football.
It wasn’t long before the Roch’s pressure paid off.
Having won a free kick on the half way line the Roch’s centre back, Steph McManus sent one of her long range free kicks into the visitors penalty box where striker Caz Docherty controlled it beautifully and fired off a low shot in one movement. The keeper did well to get down to the shot only to see it squirm under her body and the Candy’s Mags McKenna wasted no time in driving the ball home from close range.
St Roch’s maintained the pressure on the visitors and got their just reward when they doubled their tally on the half hour mark.
Good build up play on the left saw Caz Docherty work a neat one two with Claire Wright before slamming the return home past the outstretched keeper.
As the game moved towards the break the home side seemed to take their foot off the gas a bit allowing East Kilbride to push forward and win an easy corner. With a strong wind assisting the inswinging corner the home defence was caught off guard and a deflection off the head of the Roch’s near post defender sent the ball in for a own goal.
The Candy ladies came out for the second half determined to take full points from the game and went at the visitors from the restart. Docherty was looking ever threatening and forced a number of good saves from the keeper. Nicky McDonald and Claire Wright constantly probed and pressed the East Kilbride back line who made it very difficult for the Roch’s to make that telling pass in the final third.
Pushing Stacey Bannon forward nearly paid off as her driving run into the box and shot looked like it was goal bound but for a great reflex save from the visitors keeper.
Then Steph McManus sent a 30 yard free kick crashing off the post before Caz Docherty put the tie beyond doubt with a 20 yard drive that took a fortunate deflection to wrong foot the keeper.
All in all a solid hard working performance from the Candy Ladies to keep them in touch with the top end of the table.
Reported by St Roch’s Ladies
Picture St Roch’s Ladies
