RAPHOE LADIES TWICE CAME from behind to draw with Rainey and maintain their good form in blustery conditions at the Royal and Prior School Grounds this evening.
Raphoe 2 Rainey 2
This was an excellent game between two top sides and in the end neither could complain about the points being shared although Raphoe were inches from a winner late in the game when Kimberly Porter fired wide.
Rainey were much the better side in the first 20 minutes although Raphoe had opening chance when, from a short corner, Sabrina Barnet’s shot was just off target in the third minute.
Rainey took over for a time and Raphoe goalkeeper Denise McElhinney was forced into excellent save in the ninth minute while the netminder made another strong save a minute later.
However, her resistance was finally broken in the 11th minute when Nikki Clarke was on hand to slot home after a well-worked short corner.
With Leanne Patterson lively, Raphoe came back into it and it was they who had the better of the final 15 minutes of the first half, without producing any clear-cut chances.
Six minutes into the second half, slightly against the run of play, Raohoe levelled when, following a brilliant build up involving four players, the ball was played to Kimberly Porter and she made no mistake.
Having worked so hard to get level, Raphoe conceded again immediately.
They lost possession in midfield and, after a quick exchange of passes, Karen Ferguson scrambled home.
Some good defending by Raphoe kept them in the game and they gradually grew back into it with Katy Love denied by Erin Mulholland.
A minute later, the Rainey ‘keeper denied Leanne Patterson with an equally good save.
Raphoe deservedly drew level again when, after a series of short corners, Leanne Patterson got the final touch close to goal to apply the finish.
It was the home side who finished stronger and two minutes into injury time they worked their way into the circle.
After showing great stick control, Porter created just enough space for a shot, but she fired just off target with what would have been a dramatic, if perhaps undeserved, winner.
Raphoe have another top-of-the-table clash next Friday when Ballymena visit the Royal and Prior.
Raphoe: Denise McElhinney, Victoria Wray, Lyndsay Tinney, Arlyne Kilpatrick, Sarah Boal, Shannon Porter, Esther Hume, Sarah Patterson, Rachel Buchannan, Kimberly Porter, Sabrina Barnett, Leanne Patterson, Wendy Patterson, Katy Love, Amy Roulston.
Rainey: Erin Mulholland, Louise McMaster, Jenna Buchannan, Alex Burns, Sarah Caldwell, Erin Anderson, Rachel Burns, Kirsty McClarnan, Karen Ferguson, Emma Currie, Nikkie Clarke, Carolyn Burns, Andrea Hegarty, Nicola Sargant, Betty Scott.
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