NORTHERN Ireland Under-16 Girls will continue their SuperCupNI campaign in the Vase competition after wrapping up their Premier group phase with a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United at Dixon Park, Ballyclare.
The girls will face Surf Select USA at The Diamond, Newtownabbey on Thursday afternoon, kick-off 3.00pm.
Coach Danielle McDowell Tuffey made a number of changes to her starting XI for this concluding group game against Manchester United following a five-goal defeat of Northeast Rush (USA) before losing narrowly to Shamrock Rovers by the odd goal in three on Tuesday afternoon.
In came Sophie Glover, Lily-Brooke Wallace, Mirjana Karrabecaj, Charlotte Havern, Maja Stachura and Ava Hurl. Chloe Beckinsale once again retained the captain’s armband.
Northern Ireland had an early chance when Ruby Adair broke down the right but could only look on as the United keeper did well to save her effort.
Not long after that Ava Hurl slipped the ball through to Emilee Leacock but, again, the opposition keeper dealt with the threat.
The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes, however, when United’s Summer Hadfield connected with a ball from the right to find the net from close range.
Northern Ireland had numerous opportunities to level before the break.
Great work from Holly Hilton saw the ball reach Adair but her effort fell just wide while, not long after that, Heidi Curran fired just the wrong side of the target from a Charlotte Havern corner.
Then, moments from the interval, Havern sent over another corner which captain Chloe Beckinsale nodded just over.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU16s 0 Manchester United 1
United doubled their advantage shortly after the break with a fierce shot from distance but Northern Ireland reduced the arrears soon after when Mirjana Karrabecaj played a brilliant ball down the right for Adair to outpace the defence before crossing for Abbie Smyth to finish well.
Fired up by this Karrabecaj then had a shot on target while Stachura crossed for Smyth after a great run but her effort from the edge of the box went just wide.
But United went on to restore their two-goal advantage from close range after the ball had come over from the left before a later finish from distance saw them stretch their lead.
Despite the result it was another great performance from Northern Ireland but Manchester United proved to be just too clinical on the night.
The girls finished third in the group, with Shamrock Rovers topping the standings following a 5-0 defeat of Northeast Rush to add to earlier victories over Manchester United and Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland U16s: Sophie Glover, Holly Hilton, Lily-Brooke Wallace, Chloe Beckinsale (captain), Heidi Curran, Mirjana Karrabecaj, Charlotte Havern, Maja Stachura, Ava Hurl, Ruby Adair, Emilee Leacock. Substitutes: Sasha Cowan, Annarose Robinson, Madison Bell (GK), Grace Guest, Daisy Moore, Sally Lynch, Abbie Smyth.
PICTURES BY BOB HALL
