A disappointing start to the season for Glentoran Women in this opening game in the Avenir Sports All Island Cup at Blanchflower Stadium this afternoon. But given that the team has played one pre-season friendly so far and that the next competitive match is not for another month, the result should not have much bearing on the 2024 season.
Former Glens player Casey Howe opened the scoring for Athlone on 5 minutes with an unstoppable wonder strike from the edge of the Glens’ penalty area. However Glentoran were level 15 minutes later when last season’s top scorer Kerry Beattie took up where she left off with a nutmeg of the keeper from a Demi Vance cross.
Glentoran then took the lead when Nadene Caldwell touched the ball home from a Vance corner. There was some debate over whether or not the ball had crossed the line but the referee was happy so the Glens took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Half Time: Glentoran Women 2-1 Athlone Town Ladies
The lead lasted just 4 minutes into the second half when Kerryanne Brown broke through the Glens defence to comfortably finish from a right wing cross. From that point Athlone were the dominant team, retaking the lead , again through Casey Howe, with 15 minutes to go from a direct free kick.
2 minutes later the game was made safe for Athlone when Kate Slevin volleyed home from a corner and with 9 to go Ciara O’Neil made it 5.
So an untypical scoreline to start the season. The other game in our group finished 2-0 to holders Galway United away to Sligo Rovers. Our next outing is a trip to Galway to face Rovers on Saturday 20th April (KO 5pm). By that stage pre season preparation will be in full swing for the Glens players.
Full Time: Glentoran Women 2-5 Athlone Town Ladies
Glentoran Women: Ashleigh McKinnon, Jess Foy (c), Emma McMaster, Aimee Neal, Jenna McKearney Nadene Caldwell, Demi Vance, Chloe McCarron, Joely Andrews, Kascie Weir, Kerry Beattie.
Subs: Megan Neill, Aimee Kerr (for Caldwell 62), Kelly Bailie (for McMaster 46), Rachel McIntyre (for Weir 46), Ali McMaster, Rachel Rogan (for Vance 62), Sofie Keenan (for Neal 62)
Photography by JOHNNY CALDWELL