NORTHERN Ireland will remain in League B of the Nations League as they draw 1-1 with Montenegro in the second leg of their promotion/relegation play-off after winning the first leg 2-0.
The home side started the game with intent with Glentoran star Joely Andrews having a chance on goal in the first minute, but she fired just wide.
Montenegro responded with a Jasna Djokovic free-kick which was deflected behind for a corner, which the away side couldn’t take advantage of.
Then, a Northern Ireland mistake left Armisa Kuc through on goal with Crusaders stopper Maddy Harvey-Clifford producing a superb one-handed save to deny the goal-bound effort.
Neither side could create many chances in the middle of the first period, but the best opportunity of the first half came in the first minute of stoppage time when Caragh Hamilton latched onto a clever pass from Simone Magill, but her strike was smothered by keeper Krstovic with Jelena Karlicic first to react to clear the danger.
It was a slow start to the second half, but on the 66th minute Montenegro dragged themselves back into the tie when Jelena Karlicic in-swinging corner was met by a strong header by Medina Desic which flew past Harvey Clifford.
On the 71st minute Tanya Oxtoby’s side were denied by the crossbar when Simone Magill’s low strike pinged off the woodwork after she had latched onto Hamilton’s low cross. Substitute Danielle Maxwell followed but, but her goal bound strike was frantically deflected clear for a corner.
The resulting corner wasn’t cleared by the Montenegro defence with Ellie Mason nodding the danger back into the penalty area for Magill, who slotted home from close range.
Hamilton nearly scored the winner when her deflected effort struck the side netting before Harvey-Clifford had to palm away Djokovic’s strike with Sladjana Bulatovic nodding over slightly after.
