2015
Larne vs St. Matthews 2014
The 2015 girls played a good St. Matthews team this weekend, who provided formidable opposition and a great learning experience.
In the first two-thirds, the girls worked extremely hard to match their opposition and in the final third continued to give their all, being more competitive in all areas of the pitch.
Player of the Match: Dart McCambridge
U10
Larne vs Berlin Swifts
Our U10 SBYL side produced another winning performance and clean sheet at the weekend. The girls showed great confidence on the ball throughout the game, which resulted in excellent possession-based football.
Alongside the excellent team performance and well-worked goals, many of the girls showed real quality with some fantastic individual goals. As the game progressed, Berlin Swifts enjoyed some more possession, but the Larne team kept their shape and continued to play their own passing game despite the additional pressure.
Player of the Match: Megan McLean
U12
Larne vs Cliftonville
Our U12 side put in a big performance today against an unbeaten Cliftonville side at the weekend. A dominant opening half saw the Larne girls have all of the play, hitting the woodwork twice and having a goal chalked off for offside.
Early in the second half the girls were undone by a long ball and good finish, giving Cliftonville the lead against the run of play. Larne responded straight from the restart, working the ball forward and then out wide to Poppy Leonard, who put the ball straight into the far top corner to equalise.
Cliftonville then took the lead once again, but Larne equalised when India Wilson picked up a loose ball in midfield and showed fantastic composure to slide her pass through to Avanah McNally, who then sprayed the ball wide to Poppy Leonard for her second of the game with another excellent top corner finish.
As the girls pushed for a winner, some good play forced a corner from the left and the resulting delivery saw a goalmouth scramble before Paisleigh Baird latched onto the ball and poked the ball home with the last kick of the game.
Player of the Match – Poppy Leonard
2010
Larne 4-0 Dungoyne
This past weekend’s game was played in conditions not ideal for a game of football, and both sides could have been forgiven for being as miserable as the weather, but that certainly didn’t transfer on to the pitch!
Larne started well from kick-off and put a strong Dungoyne side under pressure from the first minute, taking the lead with a fine side-footed finish from Roxy. As the early pressure continued, the girls doubled their lead as the ball fell to Charley who was ready and waiting to finish well from close range to ensure the team went into half-time 2-0 up.
The second half started much like the first, with the team working tirelessly and using the ball well in possession. Larne added a third goal through Roxy once again, before Poppy used her pace to break free from the Dungoyne defenders and there was only ever going to be one outcome as she confidently passed the ball into the bottom corner.
With the game comfortably wrapped up, the Larne players were moved around to gain experience in different positions. Overall, the girls performed excellently both as a team and individually. Mia pulled off some great saves and her distribution was brilliant. The defensive performance of Evie, Ruby, Abigael and Farah was rock solid and the captain for the day Ava performed fantastically in various positions throughout the game. The midfield of Chloe, Emmie and Charley was well-balanced and worked tirelessly with and without the ball. Up top, Roxy and Poppy terrorised the Dungoyne defence all afternoon and deserved their goals.
Player of the Match: Ruby
2010 SBYL
Larne 1-2 Ballyclare
The Inver Reds started the mini derby well, holding shape and moving well as a team. The girls had a couple of good chances in the first half as they transitioned the ball through the thirds, but Ballyclare defended well to ensure both sides went into half-time level.
A slow start to the second half saw Ballyclare take full advantage, scoring two in quick succession to go 2-0 up. Larne showed determination and went about trying to get back into the game, working attack after attack but being unable to find the clinical finish to close the two-goal gap. Two minutes from the end, Ellie McKnight managed to get Larne on the scoreboard, but it was too late to find an equaliser.
Despite losing the game, the team showed a fighting spirit and determination which will serve them well in the future.
Player of the Match: Luci
2010
Larne 2-2 Crusaders (V36 Development League)
The girls turned up against Crusaders despite awful weather conditions and put in an excellent team performance, playing some great football and attacking well.
In defence, the team were rock solid and didn’t let Crusaders have any time on the ball. Larne’s midfield operated well and made some fantastic runs, particularly one by Rhea who carried the ball brilliantly to create our first goal, scored by Emma. In the final third, the girls attacked at full force throughout and were unlucky not to add to their two goals scored on the day.
Overall, there were plenty of positives to take from the game, Savannah Campbell had a fantastic game, never backing out from a challenge and getting lots of shots away. A pleasing result and performance.
Player of the Match: Savannah Campbell
2009
Larne 0-0 Crusaders
A strong performance by Larne saw the girls dominate the overall play throughout the game and create chance after chance but being unable to open the scoring.
In the first half, Larne started fast and showed quick passing and good movement with and without the ball. The second half provided more of the same, with the girls working to create chances but just being unable to find that clinical edge required to get the one goal needed to win the game, thanks to the efforts of the Crusaders goalkeeper who made some great saves.
Player of the Match: Teagan Gribben
U16/U17
Carryduff Colts 1-3 Larne
The game against Carryduff Colts started with Larne showing real urgency which the coaches loved to see. It wasn’t long before this paid dividends, as Larne took the lead inside ten minutes as Sophie delivered a corner perfectly which Alix volleyed past the opposing goalkeeper.
The young Inver Reds continued to apply pressure for the first 35 minutes, with most of the play taking place inside the Carryduff half. As the pressure continued, Larne hit the woodwork numerous times and forced the Carryduff goalkeeper into several excellent saves. The girls doubled their lead before half-time, with Sophie working the ball into the box from wide, which was followed by a lovely lateral pass by Alix and finished off by Dee who placed the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
Carryduff responded early in the second half, playing the ball through the Inver Reds’ defence to create a one-on-one chance between their striker and our goalkeeper. The Carryduff striker finished well from 12 yards out, giving Eimear no chance to save.
Following this early setback, Larne settled again and got back to controlling the game and creating chances. The girls added their third when Dee chased the ball brilliantly, nicking it from the opposing defender and slotting past the goalkeeper from 15 yards out – a goal coming purely from a willing attitude to not give up and chase everything.
Larne saw the rest of the game out comfortably and came away with a deserved three points with a convincing team performance. The key positives from the game were the team’s overall work rate, while each player stood up physically in their one-to-one battles.
Players of the Match: Clare McAleese, Anna Clark, Dee Kenny
U19
Larne vs Cliftonville
Another all-premiership club clash for our U19 squad resulted in a tough game. Similarly to last week, Larne started promisingly and created numerous chances on goal via some great build-up play.
On the stroke of half-time, a lapse in concentration from the Inver Reds resulted in Cliftonville taking the lead as the team were caught out of shape and hit on the counterattack.
Despite a strong opening performance, Larne’s heads dropped slightly in the second half and Cliftonville began using their larger squad to take control of the game and finish the game strongly. Although the team lost on this occasion to what is the best team in the country, there were plenty of positives to take into future games.
Players of the Match: Alix Wilson and Katie Dalrymple
