GLENTORAN Women will fly home from Cyprus in a good frame of mind for the rest of the domestic season after Emily Wilson’s first half goal was enough to secure a win in the 3rd place play off game against Armenian champions, Pyunik, in Paphos.
Chief Coach Kim Turner made just two changes from Wednesday’s Mura game, a narrow 3-2 defeat by the Slovenians, with Annie Timoney and Sofie Keenan and coming into the defence in a strong starting line up.
Glentoran started well but there were relatively few chances in the first half hour until Emily Wilson intervened with the decisive goal. The Northern Ireland international received the ball from a Nadene Caldwell header from a long ball out of defence and she made no mistake from inside the Pyunik box.
Substitutions were made in the second half to give younger players valuable European experience and a high spot of the goalless second half was the 83rd minute introduction of Kelly Bailie, who has played in more Champions League tournaments than any other player from the UK.
Congratulations Kelly.
So no group stages this season for the Glens. Despite the win, the other play off match did not go their way.
But the squad returns home buoyed by this win and the overall experience as they now face the challenges of retaining their domestic league and cup double to go with the recently won County Antrim Challenge Cup.
They face Cliftonville in the upcoming Electric Ireland Challenge Cup semi-final.
Glentoran Women: Ashleigh McKinnon, Sarah Tweedie, Jess Foy (c), Annie Timoney, Sofie Keenan, Chloe McCarron, Nadene Caldwell, Aimee Kerr, Demi Vance, Emily Wilson Rachel Rogan (62).
Subs: Kelly Bailie (for Kerr 83), Aimee Neal, Megan Neill, Jenna McKearney (for Timoney 46), Ellie Butler, Kelly Crompton (for Caldwell 70), Rachel McIntyre and Kascie Weir (for Rogan
Starting line up in Cyprus
