Race for the title continues

Lurgan maintained their challenge for this year’s Premier League title with this performance against one of their serious challengers Queens at ‘’The Dub’’ on Saturday. Given current form they probably would have been happy to settle for a draw away to one of their nearest rivals before the match started but such was their performance on the day they left the field bitterly disappointed that a late equaliser had robbed them of a deserved victory. Queens started the match confidently and had the visitors on the back foot early doors. They won a penalty corner which was well saved by Susie Taylor in the Lurgan goal. The ball wasn’t properly cleared though and the home side were awarded another but their slick routine was disrupted by the out-rushing Kerrie Burns whose pace off the line allowed her to block the initial strike. Lurgan gradually played themselves into the match and some penetrating runs from Sarah McClure and Carly Johnston were beginning to cause problems for the Queens back line. They got their reward on the 20th minute from a more direct approach when Lauren Wright latched onto a driven ball into the circle by Charlene Hull and finished confidently to put the visitors in front. Queens have been in good form recently and they battled back creating some good opportunities themselves and they equalised ten minutes after from a clean strike from their next penalty corner award. Lurgan took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half and some exciting play put the home side under some tremendous pressure. An early penalty corner award in the 52nd minute almost had them back in front and Sarah McClure was hugely unlucky to see her great strike knocked onto the post by the Queens keeper and scrambled clear by her defence. Five minutes later Sarah’s disappointment turned to joy as she hammered home her next penalty corner will a superb strike that gave the keeper no chance. Seven minutes later Lurgan were convinced they had stretched their lead when Charlene Hull fired home from a penalty corner rebound but the goal was ruled out for an infringement. With only five minutes remaining Queens equalised with one of their few attacks in the second half when a bouncing ball across the Lurgan circle was bundled home at the far post as the Lurgan defence waited expectantly on an umpire’s whistle which never came. Its rough justice when you walk away with just a point after putting in one of your best performances of the season but such is the nature of this game, and the whole Lurgan team can be justifiably proud of the way they played in this match.