Oxtoby 'ecstatic' after NI resilience in victory

Tanya Oxtoby's Northern Ireland currently hold the promotion play-off spot in Group B1

Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says she is "ecstatic" with her side after Tuesday's Nations League victory over Romania.

Teenager Kascie Weir scored the only goal as they responded well to Friday's 1-1 draw in Bucharest.

The result leaves Oxtoby's side second in Group B1 behind Poland, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"I think it was successful from our point of view," Oxtoby told BBC Sport NI. "We knew it was going to be tougher than people maybe expected.

"I think the other results in the group have shown it's a really tight race and there are no easy games, so to get a result at home, I'm ecstatic."

Glentoran striker Weir, 18, scored after being played in by fellow youngster Keri Halliday.

Northern Ireland and Romania both created chances to find the net at Windsor Park, as Ellie Mason saw an effort tipped on to the crossbar and Mihaela Ciolacu forced Jackie Burns into an injury-time save.

The result lifted Northern Ireland after an error handed Romania an equaliser in Bucharest.

"I asked for a little bit more resilience in the defensive third," added Oxtoby.

"We knew Romania would create chances in the way that they play.

"I said, 'defend for your lives', and I think we did tonight. A clean sheet and no defeat, that's the motto. I give the defenders a lot of credit and the kids were sensational.

"Keri [Halliday] to Kascie [Weir] for the goal is something we have been working on so I'm really pleased for them that they have got reward for that."