The English goalkeeper made a vital save to deny Allan Saint-Maximin in the first-half. Newcastle controlled large portions of the game and were the dominant side throughout the first-half.Īaron Ramsdale, who hasn't been at his best recently in what has otherwise been an impressive debut season, looked unsure throughout. But they struggled to get a foothold in the game and were a replica of Arsenal's teams of yesteryear, nervous at the back and lacking firepower up top. Shelbourne: Amanda Budden, Jess Gargan, Shauna Fox, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle (Lia O’Leary, 85), Keeva Keenan (Heather O’Reilly, 60), Rachel Graham, Emma Starr (Izzy Glennon, 78), Alex Kavanagh (Noelle Murray, 60), Megan Smyth-Lynch (Abbi Larkin, 60), Jessie Stapleton.They trailed Spurs by two points heading into the game against Newcastle.
Sligo Rovers: Amy Mahon, Kerri O’Hara (Jessica Casey, 73), Orna O’Dowd, Ruth Monaghan (Sarah Kiernan, 34), Helen Monaghan, Leah Kelly, Lauren Boles, Amy Boyle-Carr, Paula McGrory (Katie Melly, 94), Gemma McGuinness (Emma Hansberry, 73), Emma Doherty (Fiona Doherty, 85).
Her effort took a smack off the crossbar, unfortunately for Feeney’s side.
They might be new to the league, but this Rovers side is full of confidence, and that was clear on 63 minutes when Pixie O’Hara danced her way forward with great footwork, shaking off opponents right, left and centre before shooting. Lauren Boles’ clearance from defence reached Doherty who beat three defenders shooting into the net, stunning Shelbourne with 30 minutes left. Noel King shuffled his pack on the hour mark, but much to his shock the Bit O'Red went ahead just seconds after he made three changes. The 18-year-old picked out her spot and confidently tucked past Budden to bring Rovers back into the game. Amy Boyle Carr won the ball in midfield and picked out the run of Doherty who needed no invitation to work the ball forward. Rovers started the second half brightly, and were back on level terms on 55 minutes. You could hear a pin drop in The Showgrounds as everyone waited to see if the shot was in, and the celebrations were loud as the ball crept in at the far post to halve the deficit at half-time. Rovers were seeing joy with the ball in behind the Shels defence, and they were likely going to need the Shels defence to shut off to get a goal.Ī long ball from Helen Monghan took an awkward bounce in the Shels half and made its way to McGuinness who chased it down and released the ball as Amanda Budden left her line to try defend the shot. It appeared as though Shels would head into the break holding that 2-0 lead, and comfortably so, until injury time when Rovers pulled one back. Smyth-Lynch’s corner was nodded past Mahon with precision by captain Pearl Slattery, making it 1-0.Īgain, Shels continued to dominate possession after the goal, and they doubled their lead on 18 minutes.Ī dubious free-kick was awarded on the edge of the box, and a confident Alex Kavanagh sent it through the hands of Mahon in the Rovers goals, the Mayo native will certainly feel as though she should have done better.įeeney was forced into a change then on 34 minutes when Ruth Monaghan was forced off, with Sarah Kiernan coming on in her place. It was one way traffic, and the Dubliners took the lead on 12 minutes. Megan Smyth-Lynch then dragged her shot wide, before Shauna Fox’s header was just over the bar as the visitors started to take control.