Crusaders Squad:

• (GK) Angela Platt
• (LB) Lisa Armour
• (F) Helen McKenna
• (LB) Elaine Roden
• (CM) Nadine Murphy
• (F) Emma Murray
• (CB) Julie Nelson
• (CM) Danielle McDowell
• (CB) Sara Booth
• (RM) Lyndsey Patterson
• (RB) Steff Dickinson

Subs:

• Roisin McFeely (on for Emma Murray, 2nd half)
• Nicole Connolly (on for Lisa Armour, 2nd half)
• Terri Harper (on for Nadine Murphy, 2nd half)
• Rebecca Corish

• Nicola McWilliams

The first match of Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers W.F.C. 2010 Premier League campaign saw them take on Linfield Ladies at Seaview on Wednesday 14th April. Strikers got off to the perfect start. With only 3 minutes of the match played left midfielder Lisa Armour received a through ball into the box to coolly finish with an easy goal past Linfield Ladies goalkeeper Lucy Fagan. Several early chances followed but it was a Linfield Ladies counterattack in the 8th minute that had Strikers keeper Angela Platt become involved in the game. Play quickly transferred to the opposite end of the pitch and after a keeper error Danielle McDowell made it 2-0 to the home side. The game continued at a fast pace and Strikers one-touch football made impressive watching for the spectators in the main stand. Nearing the end of the first half Linfield Ladies had a chance to claw a goal back but unfortunately for them it glanced over the crossbar.

At half time the score was Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers 2, Linfield Ladies 0.

Before the 2nd half kicked off Strikers subbed centre forward Emma Murray putting Danielle McDowell up front and bringing on replacement midfielder Roisin McFeely. With changes made Strikers dominance continued. Soon goal opportunities arose and it was in the 22nd minute that defender Julie Nelson ran the ball through Linfield’s defence to place the ball round the keeper making it 3-0 to Strikers. 6 minutes later Helen McKenna was denied a goal after Linfield’s keeper made a instinctive diving save. Striker’s dominance in Linfield’s half did not fade and in the 31st minute they were awarded a free kick just outside the box. As Linfield’s defence and goalkeeper lost concentration Danielle McDowell took the opportunity to take an early free kick and made it 4-0 to the home side. Literally 1 minute later Helen McKenna got her well deserved goal after she coolly played the ball under the keeper’s legs to hit the back of the net and finish off the game. With 5 goals to their tally Strikers 2010 season is off to a great start.