ULSTER’S U13 girls’ hockey squads got the UK Regional Championships off to a flying start, winning both their opening games at Beeston, Nottingham.
The Championship squad sealed a 4-1 win against North East England, whilst the Trophy side beat the same opposition 2-0 in their opening game.
The Ulster girls’ travel has been sponsored by Affinity Dental Care.
Ulster Championship 4-1 North East England
Ulster got off to a flying start in the tie and could have taken the lead after just 20 seconds.
Maddie Wilson dispossessed her opposite number straight from the start before running through on goal, but unfortunately sent her effort wide of the post.
As time rolled on, North East began to take control of the tie, winning two quick penalty corners, only for the Ulster defence to come out on top and clear the danger.
With eight minutes gone, North East took the lead. Having won their third penalty corner, the initial strike was well charged down before the rebound was put into the top corner.
Following the goal, there was the perfect Ulster response as Wilson drove at the North East defence before drawing a cynical foul and earning a penalty stroke.
Wilson took from the spot and calmly picked out the bottom left corner to draw her side back level.
As the half progressed, Ulster regained the ascendancy, winning a number of penalty corners but, with nothing coming from the chances, the sides went into the break level.
After the restart, it was Ulster who came out quickest once more. Cora Magee found Lexi Scott, and she saw her shot from point-blank range saved before winning a penalty corner.
From the resulting set play, Scott saw her near post effort saved before a period of back and forth in the circle eventually saw the ball land at the feet of Maddie Wilson and she converted from close range.
Midway through the half, a North East forward was left unmarked in the circle and in a one-on-one with Tess McQuillan, but the Ulster goalkeeper who came out on top, rushing off her line and denying the forward to maintain the lead.
The save proved crucial as just moments later Ulster doubled their advantage to 3-1.
Wilson had a chance for her hat-trick but saw her strike find the foot of a defender before a well-played advantage from the umpire led to Jessica Cartmill getting a shot off and scoring her first goal of the competition.
Just four minutes later, Wilson did get her hat-trick as she was left unmarked in the circle before beating the goalkeeper at the far post with a reverse strike, putting the result beyond doubt.
Ulster Trophy 2-0 North East England
IT took just three minutes for the Ulster side to take the lead in their tie, having won an early penalty corner.
Played into the top of the circle, Tiffany Simmons took the ball on her weak side before firing in on her reverse, beating the goalkeeper at her near post.
With the half approaching the midway stage, Rachael Kirkpatrick found Roxy Irvine in the circle but she was denied by the goalkeeper at close range before winning a penalty corner.
Roxy then picked up the ball at the top of the circle, dribbling past the first runner before sending her effort just wide of the near post.
As the half entered its closing stages, North East had their first chance of the game, winning a penalty corner. However, the resolute Ulster defence held firm to clear the danger and take a 1-0 lead into the second half.
As the action got back underway, Ulster started quicker once more, winning three early penalty corners, with the closest seeing Simmons narrowly miss the target at the near post.
The corners continued to come for the Trophy side, and with seven minutes gone in the half, they had another gilt-edged chance.
After an initial strike from the top of the circle was blocked, the loose ball fell for Eve Armour, who, on the turn, got her shot off forcing the goalkeeper into a save.
The Ulster pressure finally told 15 minutes into the second half when Darcy Henry-McCool broke down the right before playing Roxy Irvine through one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
The Ulster player had plenty of time and coolly slotted her effort into the bottom right corner to extend the lead to 2-0 as it eventually finished.
