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Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland must learn from unacceptable mistakes in Poland loss, admits Tanya Oxtoby
A nightmare start, in which Poland scored twice inside the opening nine minutes, saw hopes of victory quickly evaporate and those two goals were a horror for Northern Ireland. First, Martyna Wiankowska was afforded the freedom of Seaview when she had acres of space on the left wing to deliver a cross into the box for Ewa Pajor to score the opening goal after four minutes. Pajor then took the ball of a the toe of a hesitant Jackie Burns just outside the box before doubling the lead five minutes later. It is the response from her players in such circumstances and how they reacted over the course of the 80 minutes that followed that is Oxtoby's real focus going into a crucial trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina, with second place in the Nations League group on the line now that top spot has been secured by Poland. It was a tough night for teenage debutant Abi Sweetlove to come into the defence, while she was later joined on the pitch by Glentoran's Aimee Kerr – which Oxtoby highlighted as positives to take from the game. 'We spoke about starting well and staying in the game and we didn't do that,' said Oxtoby. 'I don't think you can play a team like this and make mistakes. They will punish you. They did that tonight and they did it when we played them away as well. 'It's a lesson to be learned, but that's why they're going to Euros. They're a top side with top players and if you make errors, whether that be collectively or individually, they're going to punish you for that. 'That's the level we want to be at. So we have to take that on the chin and we have to learn from it, and we have to keep moving forward.' Poland's three major threats, Paulina Tomasiak, Pajor and Adriana Achcinska, combined for the third and fourth goals – the former smashing home after 28 minutes before the latter slotted the fourth a minute into the second half to wreck Oxtoby's half-time reorganisation. There was a distinct difference from the first two goals, which were heart-breaking for Northern Ireland compared to the sheer quality that Poland displayed for the latter two. 'There were mistakes all over the pitch and I think it's the reaction to that that we're looking for,' said Oxtoby. 'Do you have the resilience to turn that around and really then impact the game in a positive way? Credit to the girls I thought they did that, each and every one of them. 'The changes we made at half-time had an impact, the subs we made during the second half had an impact and the girls will learn from that. 'We've had two debuts tonight and you look at what Poland put out, you look at what we're put out and, you know, we're on a journey and I'll take those mistakes while we're continuing to learn.' After going three games unbeaten since a 2-0 defeat in Poland, results which had given hope to pipping the Poles for top spot in the group, Oxtoby wasn't completely downbeat. 'There are group errors, there are individual errors across the whole campaign and it's just about learning from those and making sure that we continue to develop the players,' said Oxtoby. 'One result doesn't define our campaign, we've been brilliant across this campaign and we're still in a great position and that has got to be the focus for us. 'We've said that in the group there. We've got to learn from tonight, the bits that we need to take and be better at, no doubt, short term and long term. But our focus has got to be on Tuesday and making sure that we get that right.' The focus is now very much on Tuesday and, with Bosnia being very much a different level of opposition, Northern Ireland's approach will be very different in Zenica. 'You probably have to be flawless against a team like (Poland), and in the second half what pleased me was the opportunities we had going the other way,' said Oxtoby. 'We could have easily gone into our shell and not really expressed ourselves and we still did that. We take the positives and we've got to take those into Tuesday because it's a massive game for us.'
Belfast Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Teenage goalkeeper called into Northern Ireland squad for Nations League double-header
Teenage goalkeeper Kate Smith has been called in to the Northern Ireland squad by manager Tanya Oxtoby's for the upcoming Women's Nations League games against Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Lisburn Rangers shot stopper will replace Maddy Harvey-Clifford who has withdrawn from the squad through injury. Oxtoby said: 'Kate is a young player we've been monitoring for some time. She equipped herself well when she joined the squad as a training player during our last camp and deserves her place for these two games.' Kate Smith is one of two teenage goalkeepers in the squad, with Manchester City youngster Abbie Smith named in the original panel. The two youngster will likely play back-up to experience first-choice goalkeeper Jackie Burns. The clash with Poland will be played at Seaview on Friday night, with kick-off at 7pm, before the team travel to Zenica's for Tuesday clash. Oxtoby added: 'It's great to get the players together again. There is an optimistic mood about the place. "We know we need to put the work in here over the next few days to prepare ourselves for the games against two quality teams in Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 'The players are all eager to play in front of the Green and White Army and we know how important they can be in helping us deliver a positive performance.'
Belfast Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland Women dealt injury blow as midfield star pulls out ahead of key double-header
The midfielder has picked up a hamstring injury that has ruled her out for the clashes at home to Poland and away to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nottingham Forest Women defender Nat Johnson has been called up to replace the 26-year-old Scofield, who has been a regular in Oxtoby's starting line-up since switching allegiance and making her debut for Northern Ireland in 2024. The London-born midfielder has just completed a loan spell at Sheffield United Women in the FA Women's Championship from London City Lionesses, while she also previously plied her trade for Leicester City Women in the Women's Super League. Scofield's withdrawal is unwelcome news for Oxtoby with Northern Ireland facing Poland at Seaview on Friday, May 30 (7.00pm) before travelling to Zenica to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, June 3 (6.00pm BST) in two crucial Nations League B, Group 1 encounters. With Northern Ireland sitting second in the group with seven points from four games as they stare into the final two games of the League, the first clash sees them lock horns with unbeaten League leaders Poland, who have 10 points, before tackling the third-placed Bosnians who are perched on four points. Their current position would be good enough for a Promotion Play-Off to get into League A, however failing to beat Poland would rule out their chances of automatic promotion courtesy of their inferior head-to-head record. Similarly, they are at risk of falling into a Relegation Play-Off. Bettering third-placed Bosnia's result against winless Romania on Matchday Five would eliminate that possibility and confirm Northern Ireland's League B survival, however any other outcome would ensure their fate goes right down to the final day.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Northern Ireland boss hails talented teen for 'seamless' transition into senior squad
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says teenage goalkeeper Abbie Smth has earned her call up to the senior squad after impressing in training last month. The 16-year-old was brought in to train with Oxtoby's squad last month and is now officially part of the panel for the forthcoming UEFA Women's Nations League matches against Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina given her level of performance in those sessions. Smith made the switch from Crusaders to Manchester City in March and Oxtoby said there is no doubting her talent. READ MORE: Accommodation prices increase by almost 900% on booking site for Portrush Open week READ MORE: Police investigate burning of five vehicles as arson "Abbie came in and she was seamless in relation to training intensity, being in and around the group and the maturity that she showed," said Oxtoby. "There's no doubting her talent so that was really impressive. The main thing when we're looking at the younger players coming in is are they ready for that senior environment." Uncapped duo Aimee Kerr and Abi Sweetlove retain their place in the squad after receiving their first senior call-ups in April. Veteran Newcastle United Women attacking midfielder Rachel Furness is also included in the 24-strong squad after receiving a late call-up for the League B Group 1 home match against Romania last month. "Furny will come in and whether she gets minutes or she doesn't get minutes the standard and the professional values she has after all her experience being in and around the game will help lift the group," said Oxtoby. Northern Ireland are set to play unbeaten Group B1 leaders Poland on Friday 30 May at Seaview in Belfast (7pm) with Oxtoby's side currently three points behind them in second. They will then face third-placed Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final B1 game in Zenica on Tuesday 3 June (6pm BST start). Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tanya Oxtoby hands Manchester City teenager first Northern Ireland call-up
Just three months after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship the 16-year-old has been selected by manager Tanya Oxtoby for the crucial Women's Nations League double header against Poland and Bosnia & Herzegovina. While it is a big step up for under-17 international Smith, who made the move from Crusaders Strikers in February, Oxtoby sees it as an opportunity to speed up her development. It is less than a year since she made her debut for the Strikers aged just 15-years-old against Glentoran Women in August 2024, which turned out to be her only Women's Premiership appearance for the club. At the other end of the scale all-time leading goalscorer Rachel Furness, who was called in late ahead of last month's win over Romania is included from the start this time around and could add to her 96 caps. Smith replaces Rachel Norney in the squad while Rangers' Laura Rafferty returns to the defence after injury ruled her out of the most recent double header against Romania. Kelsie Burrows is currently out through an ankle injury sustained while playing for Cliftonville Ladies and Nat Johnson, who was called in last time around, is back on the stand-by list. Megan Bell too back after missing the second game against Romania as Oxtoby expands her panel by naming 24 players this time around. Northern Ireland currently trail Poland by three points in the group, making next Friday's clash at Seaview potentially pivotal in the fight for promotion to League A and the feeling that the 2-0 defeat in Gdansk back in February wasn't a reflection of the performance is still fresh in the minds of Oxtoby and her squad. A win for Northern Ireland, who are unbeaten in the last three games, would set up a huge clash with Bosnia the following Tuesday with at least a promotion Play-off the aim. Poland dropped points for the first time in the group when an injury time goal rescued them in Bosnia in their last game, on the same night that Northern Ireland beat Romania 1-0 to close the gap at the top of the group and keep hopes of a rise to League A alive. Goalkeepers - Jackie Burns (Calgary Wild), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Abbie Smith (Manchester City Women). 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 and 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), Rachel Furness (Newcastle United Women). 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).
