Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-16 development team registered an excellent win as they began their SuperCupNI campaign.
Competition
SuperCupNI Girls’ Premier (U16) Section – Group B
Scoreline
Northern Ireland WU16s 5 Athlone Town Ladies 1
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Kayli-Ann Clayton (19’, 41’, 43’), Kelly (9’), Stachura (66’)
Athlone Town: Abbie Duffy (53’)
Venue
Dixon Park, Ballyclare
Date
22 July 2024
Team News
A Northern Ireland Under-16 girls’ development side defeated Americans Surf Select in the SuperCupNI girls’ premier section decider 12 months ago.
Coach Danielle McDowell Tuffey is hoping her U16 class of 2024 can repeat the feat – and she has an 18-strong panel to choose from at the international youth football tournament.
The three other teams in Group B are Athlone Town (late replacements for Shelbourne), Galway United and debutants Wolverhampton Wanderers, while competing in Group A are Manchester United, Aston Villa and American outfits USSSA and Surf Select.
Northern Ireland’s placing in the group will determine if they take part in the final of the Girls’ U16 (Premier) Cup, Globe or Vase later this week.
How it happened
Northern Ireland took the lead after just nine minutes when Lucy Kelly neatly curled the ball home.
Defender Caitlin Carlisle cleared the ball off the line as Athlone looked to strike back quickly.
Ava Hurl forced a save out of the Athlone keeper and Kayli-Ann Clayton smashed a shot against the bar before Northern Ireland went two up on 19 minutes. Kelly provided the cross to the back post where Clayton volleyed it home.
Athlone then had some chances and keeper Abbie Smith made a couple of decent saves.
Northern Ireland captain Jessica McGuinness shot over the top as the first half (35 mins) drew to a close.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU16s 2 Athlone Town 0
Six minutes after the restart Clayton grabbed her second of the game. She dribbled past a couple of defenders before finishing well into the bottom corner.
And she completed her hat-trick in the 43rd minute when she latched on to a misplaced pass and slammed the ball into the net.
Kelly shot over the bar before Athlone pulled one back courtesy of Abbie Duffy’s neat finish.
Three substitutes were involved in what proved to be Northern Ireland’s final goal of the match. Subs Natnicha Mills and Mia Reilly combined with McGuinness in the build-up before the ball was played to sub Maja Stachura and she applied the finish on 66 minutes.
Later today (23 July) the U16 girls will be up against Galway United at Chimney Corner (4.30pm), while their third and final group game is scheduled for tomorrow against Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Diamond in Rathcoole (4.30pm).
Antrim and Newtownabbey is once again hosting all the matches and finals in the girls’ sections at SuperCupNI (junior and premier).
For further information on the tournament go to www.supercupni.com.
Full-time: Northern Ireland WU16s 5 Athlone Town 1
Northern Ireland U16s line-up
Abbie Smith, Lillie Horner, Chloe Beckinsale, Sophie Hutchinson, Caitlin Carlisle, Sophie Pollock, Lucy Kelly, Niamh Hassan, Jessica McGuinness (captain), Ava Hurl, Kayli-Ann Clayton.
Substitutes: (used) Mia Reilly, Maja Stachura, Charlotte Havern, Caitie McGurnaghan, Tara Kerr, Natnicha Mills; (unused) Zara Maguire (GK).
Action from Ballyclare
