URI:
   DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Our Wee Country 
  HTML https://ourweecountry2020.createaforum.com
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       *****************************************************
   DIR Return to: Senior Team
       *****************************************************
       #Post#: 23107--------------------------------------------------
       Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: EalingGreen Date: March 27, 2025, 10:28 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       (The above game is part of a double header, with the Home return
       on Tues.08Apr.)
       Glentoran midfielder Aimee Kerr has received her first call-up
       to the Northern Ireland squad for their Nations League
       double-header against Romania.
       The 18-year-old previously captained NI at under-19 level and
       replaces injured club teammate Chloe McCarron in the squad after
       impressing in her first Women's Premiership season.
       Tanya Oxtoby's side are second Group B1 after a defeat against
       Poland and a home win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their first
       two games.
       They face Romania, who are bottom of the group after two defeats
       in their first two games, in Bucharest on Friday 4 April before
       a return game at Windsor Park four days later.
       Oxtoby has also brought in Linfield defender Abi Sweetlove for
       Nottingham Forest full-back Nat Johnson in the only other change
       from her February squad.
       Sweetlove, who also captained NI at under-19 level, was in the
       squad for the Euro play-off second leg win against Croatia but
       was an unused substitute.
       "We probably needed more central [defensive] options with the
       Abi and Nat switch and Chloe is not fit for this window, Aimee
       is more of a like for like replacement," Oxtoby said.
       "We've been tracking those [two] players for a while, and we
       have forward planned a little bit in when we thought would be a
       good time to bring them in based on the opposition and our squad
       composition with what we would need.
       "This window seemed like a really good opportunity, and I'm
       really excited for them to join us."
       Glentoran duo Nadene Caldwell and Kascie Weir, who were late
       additions to the squad last month, retain their places.
       Striker Weir made her debut off the bench in the 2-0 loss in
       Gdansk before making her first start and impressing in the 3-2
       comeback win against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Inver Park.
       Captain Simone Magill is one of four Birmingham City players
       named in the 23-player squad alongside Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca
       McKenna and Ellie Mason.
       Northern Ireland squad:
       Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Bristol City Women), Maddy
       Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Rachael Norney (Liverpool
       Feds).
       Defenders: Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason
       (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women),
       Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield
       Women).
       Midfielders: Louise McDaniel and Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley
       Women), Nadene Caldwell, Aimee Kerr (both Glentoran Women),
       Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest
       Women), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United Women, on loan from
       London City Lionesses).
       Forwards: Emily Wilson and Kascie Weir (both Glentoran Women),
       Lauren Wade (Hearts Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City
       Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Danielle Maxwell
       (Burnley Women), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest Women).
       More here:
  HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c39vgwn2v81o
       #Post#: 23169--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: EalingGreen Date: April 4, 2025, 9:54 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Just a wee reminder that this game kicks off at 5pm (UK time)
       this afternoon, with coverage: Live stream on BBC iPlayer and
       the BBC Sport website and app; live text and in-play clips on
       BBC Sport website and app.
       #Post#: 23170--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: Ernie Date: April 4, 2025, 12:07 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       1-1 at HT
       #Post#: 23171--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: EalingGreen Date: April 4, 2025, 1:02 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Ernie link=topic=1089.msg23170#msg23170
       date=1743786425]
       1-1 at HT
       [/quote]And 1-1 at FT.
       Can't say I really watched the game (had it on in the
       background, without sound, while attending to something else),
       but I wasn't impressed. Player for player I'd say NI are the
       better team, and looked it for the first half. Our taking the
       lead was probably deserved, but their equaliser was dreadful -
       two of our defenders went for the same high ball into our area,
       both missed it, and it fell to the Romanian forward whom one of
       them should have been marking, to slot home from close range.
       Didn't see much of the second half, but what I did see maybe
       suggested that the Romanians had taken greater heart from the
       equaliser, were giving at least as good as they got, and were
       damned unlucky not to win it in injury time when hitting the
       bar. Scrappy game, mind.
       #Post#: 23172--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: RichardM Date: April 4, 2025, 1:11 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Fairly turgid stuff from NI against a team that had lost their
       last 5 games apparently, I think we've some good players who are
       being badly coached, I hope the manager doesn't still talk about
       going on journeys anymore.
       #Post#: 23177--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: Simon-613 Date: April 4, 2025, 5:08 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Marissa Callaghan, who was co-commentating, mentioned before the
       match that the squad looked a bit light on genuine centre backs,
       and that proved prophetic as the two makeshift centre backs made
       a complete mess to let Romania equalise.
       It has to be said that the pitch looked awful, which made
       playing neat passing football difficult. But I felt the team
       looked short of a clear strategy. It was probably a night for
       getting the ball wide and raining in crosses but we never got
       any sustained pressure going.
       A draw in the end was a fair result and we came close to losing
       it when they hit the crossbar.
       On the plus side, we're still in a good position to finish 2nd
       in the group
       #Post#: 23196--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: davidbr Date: April 7, 2025, 5:49 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Rachel Furness is back in the squad for the first time in two
       years. A link between defence and attack. Good news for Simone
       Magill.
       On the other hand: According to Oxtoby's post-match comments,
       the team ARE still on a journey. Not sure where to. I just hope
       it doesn't involve too many back passes to Jackie Burns. She did
       her usual just after Romania's goal; dwelt too long on the ball,
       panicked, and cleared it straight to an opposition forward, who
       fortunately couldn't believe her luck and thumped it wide.
       Also, was Friday the first time that NI have lined up without a
       single Irish League starter?
       #Post#: 23197--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: RichardM Date: April 8, 2025, 2:06 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=davidbr link=topic=1089.msg23196#msg23196
       date=1744066167]
       Rachel Furness is back in the squad for the first time in two
       years. A link between defence and attack. Good news for Simone
       Magill.
       On the other hand: According to Oxtoby's post-match comments,
       the team ARE still on a journey. Not sure where to. I just hope
       it doesn't involve too many back passes to Jackie Burns. She did
       her usual just after Romania's goal; dwelt too long on the ball,
       panicked, and cleared it straight to an opposition forward, who
       fortunately couldn't believe her luck and thumped it wide.
       Also, was Friday the first time that NI have lined up without a
       single Irish League starter?
       [/quote] 😂😂 can't believe it, another journey!!
       If we lose or even draw tonight we could possibly set off on
       another journey after this journey?
       #Post#: 23199--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: EalingGreen Date: April 8, 2025, 6:34 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=RichardM link=topic=1089.msg23197#msg23197
       date=1744095960]
       😂😂 can't believe it, another journey!! If we
       lose or even draw tonight we could possibly set off on another
       journey after this journey?
       [/quote]Furney's on a journey, so Don't Stop Believin'  ;)
       #Post#: 23203--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Romania (A) Fri.04Apr25 - Nations League
       By: davidbr Date: April 8, 2025, 2:39 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Furney's not on a journey onto the pitch. Another fractured team
       performance tonight. 1-0 up since the 8th minute, but not
       convincing.
       *****************************************************
   DIR Next Page