Northern Ireland WU16s 5 Northeast Rush 0
Scorers: Abbie Smyth [2], Maja Stachura [2], Mirjana Karrabecaj
Venue: Dixon Park, Ballyclare
NORTHERN Ireland had an early chance when Charlotte Havern played a brilliant through ball for Maja Strachura who was unlucky not to convert.
US visitors Northeast Rush fired an effort just wide soon after before, on six minutes, Abbie Smyth picked the ball up on the edge of the area before unleashing a fierce strike into the roof of the net.
Heidi Curran and Havern had further opportunities for Northern Ireland before Holly Hilton forced the keeper into a save with Strachura following up to convert the rebound.
Strachura then doubled her tally with just over a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock with a cool finish after Mirjana Karrabecaj had combined brilliantly with Hilton in the build up.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU16s 3 Northeast Rush 0
Shortly after the restart Daisy Moore broke down the right to find Stachura who crossed for Havern but her finish fell just wide of the target.
But Northern Ireland did bag number four soon after when Chloe Beckinsale executed a precise pass from deep for Smyth to volley home.
Then, on the hour, it was 5-0 after Lily-Brooke Wallace played a fantastic diagonal ball to Ava Hurl who set up Karrabecaj to drive the ball home at the near post.
Karrabecaj and Annarose Robinson had further chances before Northeast Rush had an effort from a free kick which Northern Ireland keeper Sophie Glover saved well.
The U16 girls continue their campaign on Tuesday (29th) against Shamrock Rovers in Monkstown (4pm) before their third and final group game against Manchester United, again at Dixon Park, on Wednesday 30th (kick-off 7.30pm).
For further information on the tournament go to www.supercupni.com.
Northern Ireland U16s: Sophie Glover, Holly Hilton, Lily-Brooke Wallace, Chloe Beckinsale (captain), Heidi Curran, Mirjana Karrabecaj, Charlotte Havern, Maja Stachura, Ava Hurl, Daisy Moore, Abbie Smyth Substitutes: Sasha Cowan, Annarose Robinson, Madison Bell (GK), Ruby Adair, Grace Guest, Sally Lynch, Emilee Leacock
In the other games, Man United, last year’s winners, suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Shamrock Rovers, whilst Surf Select lost out 1-0 to Brighton at Monkstown.
Donegal side Finn Harps lost out to Aston Villa 2-1, in an evenly matched contest.
Meanwhile, in the Junior section, it was goals galore, with Madison Perez of Surf Select grabbing a hat-trick, as her US team overcame Belfast side Crusaders 5-1 at Chimney Corner.
Manchester United went one better as they smashed last year’s runners-up Larne 6-1 at Rathcoole, while Scottish club Kilmarnock edged an eight-goal thriller 5-3 against FC United of America.
Girls’ Premier Section Results (Monday 28th July 2025)
Finn Harps 1 v 2 Aston Villa (Chimney Corner, Antrim)
Surf Select 0 v 1 Brighton and Hove Albion (Cloyne Crescent, Monkstown)
Northeast Rush 0 v 5 Northern Ireland (Dixon Park, Ballyclare)
Shamrock Rovers 3 v 2 Manchester United (Dixon Park, Ballyclare)
Girls’ Junior Section Results (Monday 28th July 2025)
Crusaders 1 v 5 Surf Select (Chimney Corner, Antrim)
Kilmarnock 5 v 3 FC United – Cloyne Crescent, Monkstown)
Manchester United 6 v 1 Larne (The Diamond, Rathcoole)
