That’s provided that it is her team who scores first in Tuesday’s return tie in Reykjavik.
It is the performance against a team ranked 17th in the world and whose last games were at this summer’s European Championships that is giving Oxtoby that belief.
Much as Iceland dominated possession at the Ballymena Showgrounds, particularly in the first half, created numerous chances and scored in either half to give themselves a lead to take into the second meeting they found Northern Ireland’s makeshift defence tough to break down.
Nadene Caldwell and Lauren Wade, both playing out of position, and Abi Sweetlove winning just her second cap were excellent as they thwarted most of the danger posed to them and Iceland had to rely on set piece goals from Glodis Viggósdóttir and Ingibjorg. Sigurðardóttir 30 minutes into either half to see them through,
“The performance was exceptional, we have to celebrate that. The way in which the players executed the game plan, we haven’t conceded from open play, 2-0 we’re still in the tie,” said Oxtoby.
Northern Ireland players embrace following the full-time whistle
“There are improvements to be made. Overall I’m really proud of the group, they can really take heart in that performance and I think they will take a fair bit of confidence out of it too.
“We said you’re going to have to suffer a little bit. When you play good teams you’re not going to have the ball as much, you’re going to have to suffer and who are you going to be in those moments?
“I think we saw what the group is about and they stuck together. If one got beat the next one was in and that type of performance, as a manager that’s what you can ask for.” Sarah McFadden’s appearance for her 107th cap as a second-half substitute after and 18-month absence as well as regular starter Rebecca Holloway being available after suspension will give Oxtoby extra options for the second leg.
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby
Leyla McFarland’s late cameo for her senior debut, as well as the performance of Emily Wilson in attack when Northern Ireland had much more of the ball in the second half will also provide some food for though when the squad makes the journey to Reykjavik, especially as they will go there knowing that they need to score at least twice.
“Massive credit to the defence. We’ve got Sarah McFadden getting some minutes and Rebecca Holloway back in for the second leg,” said Oxtoby.
“We’ve got players that have been building throughout the week with minutes too, so we might have them more available, hence why it was important that we stayed in the tie so that come Tuesday we might have a little bit more up our sleeve.”
Northern Ireland will, however, have to be much more creative if they are to over come that two-goal deficit as it wasn’t until a period midway through the second half, shortly before the heartbreaking second goal, that they looked likely to score on the back of a much improved display after the break,
Northern Ireland’s Caragh Hamilton with Iceland’s Glódís Viggósdóttir
Teenage debutant Mia Moore provided a threat when she came on and her Glentoran Women team mate Wilson provided probably the closest near miss with a drive down the left that resulted in a shot that curled just wide of the far post.
“One hundred per cent we can turn it around,” said Oxtoby.
“ We didn’t necessarily want to be too expansive and push for a goal.
“We wanted to stay in our shape and look to counter. We want to go into the second leg in a position where we can go and push for that and I think we’re in a position to do that. We’re pretty confident.”
The recurring theme during Oxtoby’s two-year tenure in charge of Northern Ireland has been that the performance in the second game of a double header has generally been a step up from the first and that is a theory that she is leaning on once again.
“They’ve got confidence from that performance now, belief in the strategy, what we’re going after and I think generally speaking, second game in when we play teams twice, we’re better,” said Oxtoby.
“We go in with a lot of confidence and still in the tie, which was the goal.
“The first goal on Tuesday is going to be huge. Whoever gets that it’s either a long way back for us, or it’s a little bit nervy for them.”