Nations League: Northern Ireland secure League B status

Northern Ireland maintained their Nations League B status with a home draw against Montenegro, despite not being at their best at Windsor Park.

It isn't a game that will live long in the memory and it most certainly will give Manager Tanya Oxtoby food for thought going forward, given the performance of her side that wasn't one of their best.

Indeed, the tie is more likely to be remembered for the historic visit of First Minister, Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill, to Windsor Park, along with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and new GAA President Jarlath Burns.

Simone Magill's second half equaliser, coming just a few minutes after the visitors had taken the lead, was enough to see Northern Ireland get over the line. But, that it took Montenegro to go in front to seemingly spark Northern Ireland into life, will be modicum of concern for the Manager.

Oxtoby opted to make two changes to the starting line-up from the one that secured victory in the first leg in Podgorica on Friday.

But it was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the match in the eighth minute. A neat move saw Armisa Kuc through on goal, but Maddie Harvey-Clifford stood tall to bat the ball out for a corner after Kuc's close-range effort.

As the half wore on, the hosts began to come into the game much more, but were unable to craft any real clear-cut chances on goal.

Indeed, it took until a minute into stoppage time for their best opportunity to materialise when Joely Andrews played in Caragh Hamilton down the right flank. The Lewes winger galloped towards goal and her low sidefoot effort squirmed through Montenegro keeper Anastasija Krstovic. However, the stopper managed to get just enough on it to slow the pace of the ball before it was eventually hacked clear.

Oxtoby opted to make two changes at the break in order to spark some life into her side.

Ellie Mason came on in the heart of the defence for Sarah McFadden, who had been an injury doubt in the run up to the game. Captain Marissa Callaghan also entered the fray in midfield at the expense of Joely Andrews.

The cat was firmly put amongst the pigeons on 66 minutes when Median Desic got on the end of a corner from the left to nod home from a couple of yards out to put the visitors in front – and it was no more than they had deserved.

But Northern Ireland took just seven minute to get back on level terms on the night.

After Magill had smashed her effort off the crossbar and Maxwell’s follow up was deflected wide on 72 minutes, the hosts equalised less than 60 seconds later as Magill tapped in after Ellie Mason’s header had loped over the keeper from the left.

They almost went in front two minutes after that when Magill did superbly down the right to cut in and pull the back for Hamilton. However, her goalbound effort was deflected out for a corner.

But they were served warning of the threat Montenegro still posed at the other end shortly afterwards.

This time it was sub Masa Tomasevic who curled in an effort from the edge of the box that forced Maddie Harvey-Clifford into a diving stop to her left.

As it was, Northern Ireland were able to see out the aggregate win with little difficulty, but Oxtoby will know there are plenty of areas for improvement moving forward.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: Harvey-Clifford, Rafferty (C), McFadden (Mason H-T), McKenna, McCarron, Andrews (Callaghan H-T), Bell (Halliday 71), Vance, Hamilton, Magill, Wade (Maxwell 60)

Subs not used: Turner (GK), Perry (GK), Burrows, Finnegan, Caldwell, McLaughlin, Beattie, Dugdale

Montenegro: Krstovic, Karlicic, Bozic, Saranovic, Djurkovic (Tomasevic 76), Djokovic (Vujadinovic 90), Bulatovic, Saric (Popovic H-T), Desic, Kuc, Djukic

Subs not used: Kalac (GK), Zugic (GK), Radunovic, Boricic, Osmajic, Simonovic, Cadenovic, Burdevac, Janjusevic

Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria)