Uefa Women’s Nations League B1, round 2: Northern Ireland 1-0 Albania
NORTHERN Ireland Women’s manager Tanya Oxtoby passed the credit for allowing Lauren Wade to play a captain’s part with the only goal of a game to the player who began the game with the armband – Sarah McFadden.
As anticipated, McFadden started as skipper on the occasion of her 100th cap, but Wade was handed that honour for the second half as she clocked up her 50th senior international appearance - and broke the deadlock with a 57th minute tap-in.
Oxtoby, obviously pleased after winning a game largely bossed by her team, said: “This group, they’re a family, they’ve been together a long time, so I step back from those sort of things.
“The culture comes from the playing group, they look after each other. Really pleased that they made decisions that make each other’s day, really – special occasion for both of them.”
Wade herself revealed that the switch had not been pre-arranged, noting: “That’s how much of a special person ‘Mac’ is. She won her 100th cap and I won my 50th – Mac is a special person.”
Getting the goal made the occasion all the better for the 29-year-old, she confirmed: “As a player you want to make an impact on the game and obviously to do it on my 50th cap is a dream come true…
“I probably couldn’t have had an easier finish and I’m just glad it ended up in the net.”
The hosts were well on top after the goal finally went in but had to settle for a narrow, albeit fully merited victory.
The win was much-needed after the chastening 3-0 chasing they endured against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, and lifts NI into second spot after the other Irish team won 4-0 away to Hungary.
Usual captain Marissa Callaghan was one of six players moved to the bench from Saturday’s starting side. In came Rebecca McKenna, Nadene Caldwell, Megan Bell, Chloe McCarron, Kirsty McGuinness, and Wade.
Although Bell was closest to Simone Magill, the centre-forward was linking up well with McGuinness on the left.
The home side’s first chance fell to Caldwell, her shot deflected wide. Then from another corner McFadden appeared be dragged down, but nothing was given.
Oxtoby’s tactical approach quickly became apparent: get the ball out wide and deliver it into the box.
Holloway duly despatched a deep cross which came all the way across to Wade, off a defender’s head, but her low left-foot strike came back off the base of the near post.
The next minute Magill really should have opened the scoring when McGuinness sent across a precise centre, but the Aston Villa striker’s effort was too close to the goalkeeper.
Magill had the next opportunity, but glanced a cross from Demi Vance just wide of the far past on the stretch, and a McGuinness delivery then reached Bell but her header was blocked.
Vance almost broke the deadlock with a long range effort which whistled past the angle of post and bar but the half ended goalless after no NI player attacked a cross from Wade, who had switched over to the left side.
It was from the centre that Wade scored, however, with much of the credit going to Caldwell. The Glentoran midfielder powerfully headed down a deep cross from Bell, forcing a save from goalkeeper Rexhepi, then followed up to square the loose ball to Wade, who could not miss.
McFadden was then denied a goal on her big night by a flying save after she got her forehead to a Vance corner.
The hosts continued to dominate possession and territory, but despite bringing on Joely Andrews and Emily Wilson they could not increase their tally, although Bell did force a fine save with a low drive.
Andrews almost doubled the lead late on after a brilliant run by Magill but the keeper made a brave save.
McFadden nearly capped her night with a long range strike narrowly off-target before Callaghan was kept out by a superb save when she met a Magill cross with a firm header in the fifth minute of added time.
Northern Ireland: Turner; McKenna, McFadden (capt.), Holloway, Vance; Wade, McCarron (Furness, 83), Caldwell (Callaghan, 83), K McGuinness (Wilson, 64); Bell (Andrews, 63), Magill.
Albania: Rexhepi; Gjergji, Tukaj, Maliqi, Curraj; Gjini, Hila, Berisha, Bashka (Metalla, 60); Doci, Maksuti (Troka, 84).
Referee: Zulema Gonzalez (Spain).
Attendance: 1,597.
