Glentoran moved four points clear of Cliftonville in the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership with a 4-0 win in their top-of-the-table clash at Solitude.
Wednesday 4 August results:
Cliftonville 0-4 Glentoran
Derry City 1-6 Linfield
Sion Swifts 0-2 Crusaders Strikers
Cliftonville still have two games in hand over the current champions, but the Glens secured the statement victory with a commanding triumph in North Belfast.
Lauren Wade opened the scoring for Billy Clarke’s side in the fifth minute before goals from veteran Kelly Bailie and Northern Ireland international midfielder Nadene Caldwell put the outcome beyond doubt.
The Glens were then awarded two late penalties; Caldwell’s first effort was unsuccessful but captain Jess Foy – at the second attempt, after having her first spot kick retaken due to encroachment – converted minutes later to add a fourth goal for the East Belfast side.
Crusaders Strikers strengthened their grip on third place with a two-goal victory in Strabane over Sion Swifts.
The result moves the Crues six points clear of Sion – who have played a game more – with an unfortunate own goal from Leah McGonagle opening the scoring in the 56th minute.
The Strikers – being coached for the first time by Jonathan Tuffey after Spike Hill’s exit earlier this week – doubled their lead midway through the second half from Amy McGivern to earn an impressive win.
Linfield emphatically ended their run of defeats with a 6-1 victory at basement side Derry City, as teenage winger Keri Halliday netted a hat-trick.
Halliday – a 16-year-old making her first start for the club since joining from Ballymoney United – stole the headlines with her sensational treble, as striker Rebecca Bassett also bagged a brace.
Paula McGrory had netted for the Candystripes early in the second half but the result was put beyond any doubt in the 77th minute when Sienna Leckey added a fifth for Phil Lewis’s side before Halliday completed the win in injury time with her third and the Blues’ sixth.
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