Cliftonville’s Danske Bank Women’s Premiership title hopes were dealt a blow with a 3-2 defeat to Glentoran in a tight encounter on Sunday 26 August, reports nifootballleague.com.
The win for Glentoran now sees them just one point behind Cliftonville.
Glentoran dominated the early stages of the match with sustained attacks but found Caoimhe Callaghan in the Cliftonville goal in excellent form.
Cleo-Neece Taggart made the breakthrough by slipping the ball past Callaghan after being played through by Nadene Caldwell.
Cliftonville then had chances but despite testing keeper Ashleigh McKinnon the visitors couldn’t get on the scoresheet.
Glentoran doubled their lead 3 minutes before the break from a deep corner headed back into the six-yard area by Makyla Mulholland, for Danielle Maxwell to apply a deft finish.
Early in the second half Cliftonville put the Glens under a sustained period of pressure. This paid off when Marissa Callaghan broke clear on the left and fed the ball across goal for Amber Dempster to score after beating the offside trap.
Then, 20 minutes after that, Cliftonville levelled through Niamh Connolly who finished off a Callaghan header from a corner.
Glentoran went onto the attack and were almost awarded when an Joely Andrews effort was well saved by Callaghan.
Their pressure eventually told in the closing moments when a Mullholland free kick deceived Callaghan at the back post for what proved to be the winner.
In a frantic end to the game Cliftonville pushed for the equaliser but Glentoran claimed all three points.
The next league fixtures are on Wednesday 5 September, when Derry City host Cliftonville and Sion Swifts play Portadown.
