Glentoran went top of the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership for the first time this season with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Cliftonville.
Wednesday 23 June
Derry City 1-4 Linfield
Glentoran 4-1 Cliftonville
Crusaders Strikers 2-1 Sion Swifts
The Reds had a 100 percent winning record going into this game and still do hold a game in hand over the Glens, in what is set to be a fascinating title battle.
Glentoran’s sole league defeat this campaign was a 4-2 loss at Solitude earlier this campaign but they extracted an element of revenge this evening with four goals of their own – Northern Ireland internationals Lauren Wade and Kerry Beattie both netted twice.
Wade netted either side of Beattie’s first half penalty and even though Reds captain Marissa Callaghan pulled a goal back with ten minutes remaining, Beattie added another in the closing stages to wrap up the victory.
Linfield ended a run of three successive league defeats as they came from one goal down to run out 4-1 victors at Derry City.
It is the second time this campaign that the Blues have fallen behind to the Candystripes but they responded in comprehensive fashion.
Caroline Gallagher gave Kevin McLaughlin’s side an early lead but two goals from Rebecca Bassett along with strikes from Katie Dickson and Victoria Carleton gave Linfield the victory.
Ryan McConville was in the dugout for the first time as Sion Swifts coach but they fell to a late defeat against Crusaders Strikers.
Jessica Rea slotted the ball into the corner past Sion’s keeper Denise Elhinney but the Swifts levelled in the second half, Michelle McDaid heading in to an empty net after a lob over the keeper.
From a late Strikers corner, Holly Otter delivery was parried but the rebound fell for Julie Nelson, who volleyed home.
Fixtures for Sunday 27 June (2pm)
Crusaders Strikers v Glentoran (Seaview)
Sion Swifts v Linfield (Melvin Sports Complex)
