Magnificent Newcastle Nomads lift Minor Plate

NEWCASTLE Nomads seconds lifted the Minor Plate last weekend thanks to a strike from golden girl Cheryl Martin.

Her winning goal in the first period of extra time saw off a spirited Carrick side and it emerged after the Minor Plate win that the Newcastle ladies had also secured promotion to Junior 6 next season.

The locals got off to a nervous start and had to rely on the brilliance of goalkeeper and skipper Jenny Watson and sweeper Gaye McKee in the opening 15 minutes to keep Carrick at bay.

They produced crucial saves and tackles as Carrick threatened to stamp their authority on the final which was being played on their home turf.

Time and again during a frenetic opening, Watson and Campbell combined to protect the Nomads goal and after weathering the early onslaught, the Newcastle ladies gradually found their form and rhythm and took the game to their opponents.

Martin and the experienced Jean Erskine both tested the Carrick ‘keeper with rasping shots, but the final remained scoreless at the interval.

The Nomads changed things at the interval with Kate Dornan joining Erskine in the middle of the park which gave the side more solidity.

Within five minutes of the restart, the Nomads were awarded a short corner from which Martin’s rasping drive beat the Carrick ‘keeper, but was cleared off the line by a covering defender.

It was all one way traffic at this stage with the Nomads pressing forward and they were awarded another three short corners, with Martin, Helen Smyth and Erskine all going close to breaking the deadlock.

Carrick were awarded a short corner in the 45th minute with a striker’s powerful shot destined for the back of the net. While the shot beat Watson, it was brilliantly cleared off the line by the alert Elsie Colmer.

Carrick came back into the final and Watson was at her best, producing a number of great saves, while Campbell cleared a number of dangerous attacks.

The second half ended scoreless with the tie being decided in a sudden death shoot out with a golden goal winning the Minor Plate.

The Nomads forced three short corner in the first two minutes of extra time as they went for the jugular, with golden girl Martin popping up with the winning goal from the third set piece.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area she took aim and fired home to ensure the Minor Plate was heading to Newcastle in the club’s 50th anniversary season.

Each member of the squad contributed to the final win and played a key role in securing promotion to Junior 6.

The players would like to thank the great number of supporters who made the trip to Carrickfergus for last Saturday’s game.

Coaches Stephen Hayes and Lee Duffield would also like to thank Norman shields — who coached the Nomads to there last success in the 70’s — who provided useful advice at half time.

Newcastle Nomads: Jenny Watson, Gaye Campbell, Elsie Colmer, Lisa McTeer, Elaine Pollock, Elaine Armstrong, Jean Erskine, Stephanie Connor, Joanne Ervine, Sophie Lyttle, Helen Smyth, Cheryl Martin, Helen Taylor, Cliodna Hayes, Clare MacQuarrie, Kate Dornan.

Carrick Ladies III 0

Newcastle Nomads II 1

MINOR PLATE FINAL

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