Cliftonville Women’s 2s hit the road early for an away fixture at league leaders Marden 5s, facing a bitterly cold winter morning and an opposition boasting a formidable record: eight wins from eight, with zero goals conceded all season.
Despite the odds, Cliftonville opened brightly, pressing high and unsettling Marden’s usually composed back line. Marden hit their first goal on the 8th minute, against the run of play. Ville’s early intensity showed promise, but frustration began to creep in as a series of umpiring decisions went against them; most notably when Tracy had to duck a dangerous ball and nothing was called. Marden capitalised, finding the net twice more before the break and demonstrating why they sit comfortably at the top of the table.
A constructive and motivating half-time talk from Julie reset Cliftonville’s mindset. The team came out with renewed energy, sharper connections, and belief. Just three minutes into the second half, a brilliant passage of teamwork carved out an opportunity for Cat, who finished with a clinical reverse strike to finally breach Marden’s season-long clean sheet—an achievement in itself.
The remainder of the match was fast-paced and end-to-end, with Cliftonville fighting for every ball. In the final minute, the Russets found a fourth goal, sealing a 4–1 win, but Cliftonville walked off proud of their resilience, their improved second-half performance, and the fact they were the first team to score against the league leaders.
Woman of the Match: Kerry – outstanding work rate and impact.
Donkey of the Day: Julie – for the small matter of losing her car keys! 🔑
A tough result, but a performance full of spirit, teamwork, and character.
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