Ladies secure important point at North Down

Members of Ballymena 1st XI hockey team pictured at a reception with the Mayor of Ballymena, Cllr. Audrey Wales, marking the team winning the Ulster Senior Cup, the first major trophy in the club history. Included are coaches, officials and Cllr. Martin Clarke. INBT05-206AC

The Braid ladies knew they were in for a tough encounter, with North Down just behind them in the league table.

The home side were definitely up for the game and hit Ballymena hard in the first 10 minutes. Ballymena found themselves having to denfend hard to keep them out with the skill of Susanne Morrison and Zoe Dickson in the centre.

When Ballymena eventually gained their momentum, the forwards - Aimee Logan, Clare Gillespie, Lauren Kennedy and Kirsten Young - were making great runs:

Ballymena took the lead early in the second half when a perfectly practised corner allowed the ball to be worked in and deflected in by Becky Reynolds, bringing the scoreline to 1-0 to the visiting side in the 15th minute of second half.

North down did not shy away and 10 minutes after this, an attacker broke away and scored a great goal.

Ballymena had to defend strongly and Catherine McCracken and Grace McBurney as well as Vicky Hogg in the centre, marked tightly and did not give their opponents any time on the ball, while behind them, Emma Leslie worked miracles, making save after save.

Ballymena: E Leslie, G McBurney, S Morrison, V Hogg, Z Dickson, C McCracken, J Duncan, S Goodrich, R Reynolds, A Hempsey, K Young, L Kennedy, A Logan, C Gillespie.