Glentoran Women beat Pyunik 4-2 after conceding first

Glentoran Women ended their European mini-tournament with a 4-2 victory over Pyunik. Gracie Conway scored twice during a decisive second-half spell.

Pyunik took the lead through Susanna Badalyan, but Nadene Caldwell equalised before halftime. Conway and Aimee Kerr then moved Glentoran clear.

Pyunik score first in Wrexham

Both teams entered the game after losing their first-round semi-finals. The match decided third place in the qualifying mini-tournament.

Pyunik settled quickly and found the opening goal after 23 minutes. Veronika Asatryan supplied the final pass for Susanna Badalyan.

Badalyan’s finish gave the Armenian champions an advantage during a competitive first half. Glentoran continued to create attacks from wide areas.

The Northern Irish side had scored against Riga three days earlier. It again showed enough movement to reach promising positions.

Pyunik defended the centre and tried to protect its lead. Glentoran kept the ball moving instead of forcing early shots.

The equaliser arrived during added time at the end of the half. Aimee Kerr found Nadene Caldwell inside the attacking area.

Caldwell converted the chance and sent the teams into halftime level. That goal changed the mood before the short interval.

Glentoran had recovered without allowing Pyunik to build a larger lead. The next goal became especially important after the restart.

Conway turned the match after halftime

Glentoran began the second half with greater control near the Pyunik penalty area. The pressure soon produced a second goal.

Gracie Conway scored eight minutes after play resumed. Her finish completed the comeback and gave Glentoran its first lead.

Pyunik attempted to answer, but the game was now moving at Glentoran’s preferred pace. The home side reached loose balls more often.

Conway struck again ten minutes after her first goal. Kelly Crompton provided the assist after entering from the bench.

The two goals changed a close contest into a clear Glentoran advantage. Conway had delivered both finishes within a short period.

Her movement caused problems between Pyunik’s defenders. Glentoran also supported attacks with runners arriving from midfield.

The score now reflected the stronger start to the second half. Pyunik needed two goals simply to restore parity.

Glentoran did not retreat around its own penalty area. It continued to attack whenever possession opened a direct route forward.

Kerr added a fourth goal

Aimee Kerr supplied the pass for Caldwell’s equaliser. She then scored Glentoran’s fourth goal after 71 minutes.

Faye Loughran supplied the final pass from the left side. Kerr completed the move and placed the result beyond Pyunik’s immediate reach.

The goal rewarded Kerr’s active work across several attacking roles. She linked midfield possession with Glentoran’s forwards.

Glentoran also used its substitutes throughout the second half. Crompton’s assist showed that the changes preserved the team’s momentum.

The starting defence remained compact while the forwards kept working in Pyunik’s half. That balance reduced the opponent’s clear chances.

Pyunik still carried a threat through direct runs. Its first-half goal had already shown that Glentoran could not switch off.

The four Glentoran goals came from three different scorers. Conway’s brace provided the central contribution to that spread.

Caldwell and Kerr added one each after also connecting for the equaliser. Their experience supported the younger forward line.

A late goal changed only the final margin

Pyunik continued to search for a response despite the three-goal deficit. The Armenian side finally scored again during stoppage time.

Substitute Karine Yeghyan found the net two minutes into added time. Her goal reduced the final difference to two.

There was not enough time for another complete attack. The referee soon ended the contest with Glentoran ahead 4-2.

The late finish gave Pyunik some reward for remaining active. It did not alter Glentoran’s control of the second half.

Ashleigh McKinnon started in goal for Glentoran. Jessica Foy, Faye Loughran and Sofie Keenan formed part of the defensive line.

Pyunik began with Amber Lockwood in goal and Badalyan in attack. Asatryan supported the scorer from the right side.

Both teams used a 4-3-3 starting shape. The important difference came from Glentoran’s stronger work after the interval.

Six goals came from five different players. Conway was the only scorer to find the net twice.

Glentoran finish the mini-tournament with a win

The result did not provide a place in the next qualifying round. Riga and Wrexham had already reached the group final.

Glentoran still gained a positive ending after its earlier defeat. The team converted more of the chances created against Pyunik.

Caldwell had asked for a stronger finish in both penalty areas. Her equaliser became the first part of that response.

Conway then produced the best scoring spell of the afternoon. Kerr completed the sequence before Pyunik’s late consolation.

The game also provided another European appearance for several Glentoran players. They faced champions from Armenia at a neutral venue in Wales.

Pyunik leaves the tournament after two competitive matches. The team scored first in both games but could not protect either advantage.

Glentoran now returns to its domestic programme with a European victory. The 4-2 score closes its qualifying campaign.

Glentoran scored three times during the decisive second-half spell. Conway supplied two of those goals before Kerr added another.