Nations League: Weir nets the winner as Northern Ireland see off Romania

Kascie Weir's maiden senior international goal gave Northern Ireland's Women a vital Nations League win over Romania at Windsor Park.

The victory, coupled with leaders Poland drawing with Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier, moves Tanya Oxtoby's side into second place in League B Group B1, three points adrift of Poland and three clear of the Bosnians.

While it was far from pretty, it was job done in the end and the goal was the one genuine bit of class in the game as Northern Ireland were unable to capitalise on the dominance they held for most of the match.

Oxtoby made four changes to the starting line-up from the side that drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture in Bucharest on Friday.

The injured Rachel Dugdale and ill Megan Bell missed out and were replaced by Nadene Caldwell and Keri Halliday. Elsewhere, Weir came in for Lauren Wade, while Caragh Hamilton captained the side on her 50th cap, as Friday’s goalscorer Danielle Maxwell dropped to the bench alongside Wade.

It meant a tweak in formation, with Caldwell, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason as three centre-backs, and Hamilton and Rebecca Holloway wing-backs.

The visitors went close inside the first five minutes when Ana Maria Stanciu headed wide from a deflected free kick. It was an opportunity she really should have done better with and constituted something of a let-off for Northern Ireland

But that was the cue for Oxtoby’s side to assert their dominance on proceedings and they took the lead with a superbly worked goal in the eighth minute.

Brenna McPartlan sent Halliday scampering into the box on the right-hand side and her precision centre was rifled home perfectly by Weir from 12 yards out.

Despite bossing the game, both in terms of possession and territory, the hosts were unable to extend that advantage, and towards the latter stages of the half, Romania began to get further up the pitch and cause Northern Ireland problems.

The home side were almost architects of their own downfall four minutes before the break when goalkeeper Jackie Burns fumbled a free kick from the left into the box under pressure. The ball fell to Florentina Olar 12 yards out, but the Romanian captain saw her goalbound effort blocked on the line by the perfectly positioned Ellie Mason

Then in the first minute of stoppage time, Burns had to be alert to stop Olar again.

Northern Ireland switched off from a softly- awarded free-kick just outside the box on the left as Romania switched the ball to the unmarked Olar 15 yards out. But Burns tipped her first time effort over the bar.

Northern Ireland almost doubled their lead two minutes after the restart when Mason – who stayed up after a corner, collected the ball on the right before cutting in onto her favoured left foot and stinging the palms of Romanian goalkeeper Andrea Paraluta, who pushed the effort over the bar for a corner.

Northern Ireland could have put the result beyond doubt on 81 minutes, but sub Connie Scofield's shot was beaten out by Paraluta from 12 yards out.

There was a huge scare deep into stoppage time as Romania's Mihaela Ciolacu was allowed through on goal, but her shot was straight at Burns, who managed to make the stop.

The final whislte came soon after - probably to the relief of Tanya Oxtoby's side - who got the job done in workmanlike if unspectacular fashion.

Northern Ireland now host group leaders Poland next month before going to Bosnia and Herzegovina in early June still with an opportunity to top the group.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: Burns, McKenna, Holloway, Caldwell, Mason, McPartlan, Andrews (Wade 90), Hamilton (C) (Scofield 61), Halliday (Johnson 61), Magill, Weir (Maxwell 73)

Subs not used: Norney (GK), Harvey-Clifford (GK), Furness, Burrows, Kerr, McDaniel, Wilson, Sweetlove

Romania: Paraluta, Nicoara, Gered, Stanciu, Ficzay, Vatafu, Bortan (Marcu 75), Balaceanu, Olar (Iordachuisi 63), Ciolacu, Carp (Borodi 75)

Subs not used: Ceasar (GK), Tanko (GK), Bumbar, Vasile, Herczeg, Kis, Bistrian, Bratu, Antal

Referee: Shona Shukrula (Netherlands)