Northern Ireland Women Secure Much-Needed Win Over Malta

Northern Ireland Women Secure Much Needed Win Over Malta
Keri Halliday of Northern Ireland runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Kailey Willis of Malta Photo by Charles McQuillanGetty Images

Northern Ireland Women beat Malta 4-0 to get off the mark in their World Cup Qualifying League B Group 2 game in Lurgan.

Keri Halliday’s deflected early goal gave new boss Michael McArdle the best possible start, after a bad run of six games without a win.

Halliday also had a hand in the second goal, crossing for Joly Andrews to head home inside 20 minutes.

The second half was only seven minutes old when Halliday struck again to double her tally.

Jackie Burns turned Haley Bugeja’s shot onto the post to keep a clean sheet, and Megan Bell played in Danielle  Maxwell to lob the final goal.

McArdle’s side will next play the return game in Malta on Saturday.

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Wilf Frith
Wilf Frith is a women’s football news editor who works for Her Goal Magazine and had been with all its predecessors since 1996, becoming a founding team member after running Sunday Kicks. He has also held previous long-term roles as press officer for the Cornwall Women’s Football League and Penzance Ladies FC.
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