The BSJ senior ladies footballers were in action this week at home in Marlay Park and put in a good performance to get the better of a spirited St. Patrick’s Donabate team. The win keeps up the positive start and momentum that the girls have built in the league to date playing some good open attacking football along the way.
While the BSJ team started well building an early lead they didn’t have matters all their own way with St. Pat’s looking very dangerous when they broke out of their defensive shape. Some resolute defending by the girls in tangerine kept the St. Pat’s attack in check while at the other end good team play resulted in BSJ creating and converting chances. The St. Pat’s defence was under pressure and giving up fouls which were punished unerringly by free taker Alice Smyth. And it was the same pressure that saw BSJ turnover a Pat’s kickout high up the pitch with Alice again finishing very smartly to the top corner of the net. This score put a little daylight between the sides and BSJ went on to finish the half strongly leading 1-09 to 0-02 at the break.
On the restart St. Pat’s started to gain a little momentum in the middle third gaining more possession but the BSJ defence stood firm and didn’t allow the space for the Pat’s attackers to exploit. On the rare occasions a gap appeared Katie Moran Tighe stood tall in the BSJ goal making a couple of good saves to deny the Pat’s girls a way back into the game.
Patient play by BSJ down the other end yielded some good scores from play and 3 more frees. Some hard running at defenders by Alana Doran and Niamh Leahy drew fouls that were punished with scores from the resultant frees. It was notable the good movement and support play in all areas of the pitch from the Ballinteer girls who always seemed to have a couple of options to get out of trouble or create a scoring chance.
Well done to all 20 BSJ girls who contributed on the night to a good team performance. Congratulations to Alice Smyth who was POTM showing off her finishing skills from both free kicks and from play finishing with 1-11 (0-07 Frees).
Next up for the girls is a tough away trip to Fingallians on Wednesday 20th May at 7.30.
