Ladies are well bea-ten by Pegasus

The score didn't reflect the upbeat Ballymena side who felt their team performance had improved greatly from their first Ulster Shield match just three days prior.

But despite each player giving 100% and the home side showing a real desire for the ball, the Belfast visitors, who have dominated ladies hockey for over a decade, were just too powerful and clinical in their attack.

The first three goals of the match came from penalty corners. The fact that each goal was a replica of the other, shows the power and accuracy of the well rehearsed set pieces that Pegasus are renowned for.

However, despite being 4–0 down after the first 15 minutes, Ballymena didn't let this deter them from putting in a good show for the supporters who came out to see them.

They managed to play their own hockey and not just be on the defence all the time, holding off Pegasus for the next quarter hour, and forcing the opposing goalkeeper to make a couple of saves.

It was only a matter of time, though, before the visitors penetrated the Ballymena goal with 6 more goals, 3 coming from shots around the deadly penalty spot while others were set up by 2 v 1 on the Ballymena keeper. The post also prevented more goals, much to the relief of the defence.

This was certainly a baptism of fire for some of the young players but player of the match went to Sara Allen who showed no fear against very experienced adults whom many would have run away from.

The ladies will not let their heads go down and allow the scoreline to take away from the positives of the game.

"We did ourselves proud," says experienced player Sarah Gage, "we played around the pitch and threw ourselves at the ball, fighting for it no matter what. When you think of how young some of our players are, we really are pleased with how we played."

The firsts had a rest at the weekend only to prepare themselves for their final two Shield matches this week playing Queens away on Tuesday night and Greenisland at home on Saturday.

Firsts: Emma Leslie, Suzanne Bell, megan Smyth, Catherine McCracken, Sara Allen, Becky Linford, Beth Dinsmore, Sarah Gage, Susie Houston, Amy Logan, Claire Gillespie, Rebecca Reynolds, Susie Woolf, Sally Roddy, Jenny Dixon, Jess Kernohan.

Player of the match - Sara Allen