Image source, InphoImage caption, Chambers scored 20 goals in the Women's Premiership for Linfield last season
ByLauren McCannBBC Sport NI Journalist- Published50 minutes ago
Six games without a win or clean sheet and four games without a goal, it's been a tough time for Northern Ireland women at both ends of the pitch.
Simultaneously, there looks to be obvious fixes for new boss Michael McArdle to transform their recent fortunes and get this team in transition back on track as they look to secure a play-off for the 2027 World Cup.
They clearly have work to do, particularly when it comes to scoring goals.
Under interim boss Kris Lindsay, Northern Ireland were fairly solid in defeats against Switzerland and Turkey, with an individual error against the latter from Lauren Perry gifting the visitors a victory.
There seems to be a solid base to build on in that regard, but at the other end of the pitch it is a different story.
They had just one shot on target against the Swiss and two at home against Turkey.
With captain and star striker Simone Magill absent from this World Cup qualifying campaign as she is expecting her first child, McArdle must find others to shoulder the goalscoring burden.
In his first squad he has turned to uncapped 22-year-old striker Cora Chambers alongside Glentoran teenager Kascie Weir.
The Linfield forward formed a deadly partnership with Eve Reilly for the Blues in the Women's Premiership last season, registering 20 goals and McArdle was keen to reward her consistent form since moving to the club in 2024 with her goal tally standing at 39 in just 47 appearances.
"Excitement, I think that's the certainly in immediate observation [of Cora]," the new boss told BBC Sport NI.
"Looking ahead to Malta, there's a focus on the front end of the pitch. Cora is definitely a player that over the last two years in the league has shown real strength in her outcomes and consistent performances and it's one of those ones that it's easy to reward that.
"Really excited by Cora and I think that the energy that she can add is slightly different to what we already have and certainly it's a reward for her hard work over the last couple of seasons at club."
Uncapped Chambers named in McArdle's first NI squad
- Published23 hours ago
Northern Ireland 'should dream' of World Cup - McArdle
- Published20 March
NI to play remaining home qualifiers at Mourneview
- Published11 March
'It's about getting that goalscoring feeling again'
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, McCardle inherits a Northern Ireland side whose last goal came against Bosnia-Herzegovina in June 2025
McArdle wanted to emphasise however that it is not just Chambers who will be tasked with scoring NI's first goal since June 2025 - when they drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina - in their April double-header against Malta.
Malta currently sit bottom of Group B2 and like NI, are winless in their opening two games.
They provide the ideal opponent for McArdle's side to end their goal drought and claim a valuable six points in the race for second place and a play-off spot, but they have tripped NI up in the past.
While NI cruised to a 2-0 win away in Euro 2025 qualifying, they have previously been held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home by the same team in the Nations League.
McArdle is wary that Malta will also be targeting these two games as their best chance of getting points on the board.
"While Simone isn't available to us, it's really important that we look at the strength and depth in the frontlines and everyone contributing to goals, not just the frontline players," he added.
"Our last goal was last June so it's getting that goalscoring feeling again and getting the top end of the pitch flowing and hopefully Cora and the other players can all contribute to that.
"Malta will be very difficult to play against, they have a very strong structure. They may choose to sit in that structure and will also be targeting these two games as their opportunity to get results that will keep them in League B as well and we need to be very conscious of that."
McArdle has placed an emphasis over these next two games and the remainder of the campaign as a whole on the "final third aspect" and ending NI's run as a shot shy team.
"The main focus in these two games is a high-energy, brave style of play. We want to dominate the ball as much as possible against Malta and we need to be brave with good decision-making.
"We've got a real intelligence as a staff around that final third area and a lot of it comes from confidence. Not having won a game for over a year or scored a goal for over seven or eight months, sometimes it is self-esteem so we will look in training at building that."
