THERE was some good-natured ribbing of Joely Andrews on the flight home from Vienna on Saturday morning, teasing that her goal the night before against Austria might actually have been deflected in off Marissa Callaghan.
Typically, the skipper put the team first, and the younger colleague, saying: "It's your goal, kid - I had my chance and didn't take it."
The Magherafelt girl referenced the captain's opportunity, which came moments before a defensive blunder allowed the hosts to double their lead en route to an eventual, crucial 3-1 victory in Wiener Neustadt in the World Cup qualifer:
"Even when they go 1-0 up we had a really good chance to equalise. We just couldn't get the ball to fall for us in the box.
"We're disappointed in ourselves, in our own mistakes, but we'll look back at them and correct them. That's the best thing that we can do, take the positives out of this game."
The big positive for Andrews, still a teenager until later this month, was her first senior international goal, struck low through a crowd of players from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute, just five minutes after coming on.
"It's always a good feeling to score. Unfortunately it wasn't enough on the night, but it is good to get a goal."
Despite the disappointment of a defeat which probably ends Northern Ireland's dream of qualifying for next year's World Cup, they do have plenty to look forward to, both in the short- and mid-term.
Tomorrow night they host England in Belfast, with the game sold-out, which delights Andrews and her colleagues:
"It's amazing - the last time played at Windsor Park, I don't know the exact figure but it was around 4,000 fans. Now to have 16,000 in is unbelievable.
"As a squad, coaching staff, everybody involved, we're so, so thankful to everybody that's bought a ticket. We can't wait to have the Green and White Army at Windsor Park."
Looking slightly further ahead, Andrews and others are still playing for places in squad for this summer's delayed Euros in England, where NI will again meet those opponents and Austria, as well as Norway.
"Once we have the England game over us we will look to the Euros, acknowledged the 19-year-old. "Right now we're going to go back into training and focus on Tuesday.
"There's so much competition for places in our squad and that's brilliant for everybody. We push each other on and that's how we get the best out of each other."
Veteran centre half Julie Nelson made her senior debut in 2004, when Andrews was just a toddler, and she's loving the progress that the squad has made under manager Kenny Shiels:
"It's fantastic. I made my 100th cap [against Slovakia in September 2018] and there was probably about 50 people at the match. To go from that…to selling out Windsor Park is absolutely incredible…
"We'll turn our preparations towards England and everybody's looking forward to what will be a massive game for us."
The character within the squad to battle back against Austria after conceding three quick goals early in the second half was exemplified by Nelson.
It was her wayward square pass which led to the decisive second Austrian goal, but she still not hide from the media post-match.
Indeed the team in general displayed great spirit to put their hosts under pressure and really should have scored before Andrews did find the net with her late daisy-cutter.
England will be another step up, but Nelson believes standards are continuing to rise within the NI panel, and with Euro places still up for grabs they'll be determined to make the visitors work hard for a win at Windsor:
"We have so many good players now within our whole squad, probably 30 to 35 players who can step up. Every single player now is capable of doing the job and that only increases the standard within the squad and the competitiveness within the squad as well."
England have won all their three away qualifiers on 10-0 score-lines, but the determination of all involved with NI, from teenager Andrews to the vastly experienced Nelson, will prevent the visitors making double figures for the fourth time.
Manager Shiels was pleased with the response after falling 3-0 behind to Austria: "They didn't give up, they pushed, and pushed, and pushed to get ourselves back in the game, but it didn't happen.
"If we had have got that goal maybe 10 minutes earlier… It was bobbling about their goal-mouth for about 20-odd minutes and we couldn't get it in. It shows you the determination is there and we will do our best to get closer to this team here [Austria] when we meet them in the summer."
First, though, it's runaway group leaders England, who have won all seven matches so far, scoring 63 goals and conceding none
"We will never give up, we will play to the best of our ability against England, and let's see what we get…
"The girls have made great progress… I don't see any reason why we can't compete once we get to the Euros, we'll be in so much a better position."
