Raphoe’s ladies continue excellent start with big home win

RAPHOE’S LADIES CONTINUED THEIR excellent early-season form as they hammered Victorians at the Royal and Prior School grounds this afternoon.

 Raphoe Ladies 1^st XI 6 Victorians 0

Sarah Patterson, Kirsty McKinney, Kimberley Porter (2), Sabrina Barnett and Leanne Patterson netted the goals as Richard Tinney’s team hit six without reply and it’s now three wins and two draws from their opening five games in Senior 1.

They dominated this game, bar a brief spell in the closing stages of the first half when Victorians had their best period of the game without really threatening to get by Denise McElhinney, the Raphoe goalkeeper.

Esther Hume carved out the first opening when she broke from half-way and passed to Porter, whose shot was blocked.

Raphoe took the lead when Leanne Patterson’s excellent work saw the ball find its way to the circle, where Sarah Patterson fired home.

Raphoe continued to press and, after Tinney shook things up with three changes, McKinney netted a minute after coming on.

Victorians came into it with Emma Cooper and Charlotte Elliot to the fore. Anytime they did get close, McElhinney thwarted their attempts.

Within two minutes of the second half, Porter went close after Rachel Patterson played her in, but Lauren Henderson in the Victorians goal made a strong save.

Indeed, despite conceding six, Henderson actually had a good game for the visitors.

It was soon three-nil, though, as Arlene Kilpatrick played in Sarah Patterson, whose pressure on defender forced her to spill possession and Porter slammed the loose ball to the net.

Henderson denied Sarah Patterson, but Raphoe made it four-nil with a move straight off the training ground.

Bustard’s short corner was stopped by Linsay Tinney who laid the ball of to Barnett and her return pass to Bustard was perfectly weighted and she smashed past Henderson.

Raphoe were completely dominant now and the home side finished with a flourish, Leanne Patterson scoring after another well-worked short corner and Porter bagging her second when she turned in Bustard’s cross.

Raphoe: Denise McElhinney, Sarah Boal, Wendy Bustard, Linsay Tinney, Victoria Wray, Rachel Patterson, Sarah Patterson, Sabrina Barnett, Kimberley Porter, Esther Hume, Leanne Patterson, Shannon Porter, Louise Moran, Arlene Kilpatrick, Kirsty McKinney.

Victorians: Laura Henderson, Kathy Morland, Courtney Robb, Dara Corry, Rachel Johnson, Katie Houston, Rachel Cranston, Sophie Mills, Danielle Hamilton, Natalie Hall, Charlotte Elliot, Emma Cooper, Hannah Walker.