Women's World Cup Qualifying: Halliday shines as McArdle makes winning start with Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland 4 Malta 0
Last updated 14th Apr 2026
Michael McArdle's reign as Northern Ireland Senior Women's manager got off to the perfect start as his side dispatched Malta at Mourneview Park to record their first points of the 2027 World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Northern Ireland stay third in Group B2 despite the win, and travel to face the same opponents in four days' time in Ta' Qali.
Keri Halliday scored early in each half while Joely Andrews and Danielle Maxwell also found the net on a good night's work for the hosts - their widest margin of victory since beating Albania by the same scoreline in December 2023.
It was also the first clean sheet recorded by Northern Ireland in seven outings.
They took just less than five minutes to find the breakthrough in Lurgan, after Danielle Maxwell's delivery from the right was met by Keri Halliday whose shot found the bottom corner with the aid of a deflection.
Northern Ireland almost went two in front on 13 minutes when Megan Bell's in-swinging corner caused concern for Malta goalkeeper Guilia D'Antuono.
But just a few minutes later the home side doubled their advantage, with Halliday turning provider as she crossed for Andrews to power home a header beyond the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Ellie Mason tried her luck from distance on 24 minutes - the effort just clearing the crossbar as Northern Ireland looked to hammer home their advantage.
A big opportunity went begging 10 minutes later as Megan Bell's attempt from inside the area was beaten away by the keeper before the follow-up from Halliday was also blocked.
The second half was seven minutes old when Northern Ireland all but killed the game as a contest. Halliday was set free on the left by Ellie Mason and she cut inside on her right foot before firing in at the near post.
Home keeper Jackie Burns was called into action on a few occasions, most notably just shy of the hour mark when she tipped an effort onto the woodwork from Malta striker Haley Bugeja.
And a mere 50 seconds later at the opposite end, Northern Ireland made it 4-0 as the lively Danielle Maxwell got in on the act.
It came after great work in midfield from Megan Bell, first winning possession in midfield and then sending a fine ball into the path of Maxwell who spotted the keeper off her line and lifted the ball into the net.
Linfield's Cora Chambers was introduced for her senior international debut with 20 minutes remaining as Northern Ireland closed out the remainder of the game with little fuss.
Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna (C), Johnson, McPartlan (Kerr 83), Mason, Bell, Halliday (Hamilton 83), Maxwell (Howe 61), Wade (Chambers 70), Holloway, Andrews. Subs not used: Perry, Smith, Sweetlove, Rafferty, McFarland, Caldwell, McDaniel, Burrows.
Malta: D'Antuono, Lipman (C), Grange, Cuschieri, Farrugia, Flask, Lucia, Zammit, Borg, Sciberras, Bugeja.
Attendance: 821