Northern Ireland WU16s 4 Surf Select USA1
Northern Ireland scorers: Charlotte Havern [2], Emilee Leacock, Abbie Smyth
COACH Danielle McDowell Tuffey made a number of changes to the starting XI for this concluding game of the week, at The Diamond, Rathcoole, bringing in Madison Bell, Sasha Cowan, Annarose Robinson, Grace Guest and Daisy Moore.
Chloe Beckinsale once again donned the captain’s armband, as she has done all week.Northern Ireland moved in front in spectacular fashion after Charlotte Havern picked the ball up some 25 yards from goal and proceeded to drive it into the top corner to open the scoring.
Surf Select might have levelled only to send an effort over the top.
But Northern Ireland almost doubled their advantage as the first half progressed, with Mirjana Karrabecaj produced a good save from the keeper to turn the ball behind for a corner, whilst the resulting set piece was headed off the line.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU16s 1 Surf Select 0
Surf Select did find the equaliser early in the second half with a curling finish, but Havern came close to restoring Northern Ireland’s advantage with a shot against the crossbar soon after followed swiftly with a well taken free-kick that the keeper did well to save.
However Havern wasn’t to be denied and bagged her second of the afternoon with a driven finish from just outside the box above the head of the keeper.
Sensing victory, the girls continued to push forward to grab a third after Emilee Leacock won the ball back to finish well from close.
Ava Hurl then nodded just wide before Abbie Smyth completed the scoring with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
Head coach Danielle McDowell Tuffey paid tribute to her side and their achievements over the course of the week, insisting: “This was a challenging week with four games in four days, and there were great learning opportunities for the players.
“Coming up against opposition from different countries with varying styles of play was a great experience for the players.
“They conducted themselves very well and can be proud of their effort and determination.”
Full-time: Northern Ireland WU16s 4 Surf Select 1
Northern Ireland U16s: Madison Bell, Chloe Beckinsale (captain), Sasha Cowan, Heidi Curran, Mirjana Karrabecaj, Charlotte Havern, Maja Stachura, Annarose Robinson, Grace Guest, Daisy Moore, Abbie Smyth. Substitutes: Sophie Glover (GK), Holly Hilton, Lily-Brooke Wallace, Ava Hurl, Ruby Adair, Sally Lynch, Emilee Leacock
Danielle McDowell Tuffey
