Glentoran go three points clear in the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership

Linfield v Derry City, Sports Direct Women's Premiership
Linfield’s Sienna Leckey holds off the challenge of Derry City’s defenders (Photo: Colin McMaster)

Glentoran moved three points clear at the top of the table following another Friday evening of Sports Direct Women’s Premiership action.

The Glens hit three without reply past Larne, while Linfield came from behind to defeat Derry City and Crusaders Strikers struck a late, late winner to get the better of Lisburn Ladies.

Rachel Rogan opened the scoring for Glentoran midway through the first half at the Blanchflower Stadium after being teed up by Emma McMaster.

That was how it stayed in a keenly fought encounter until the final quarter-of-an-hour when Kascie Weir doubled the home advantage before Jess Foy made sure with a volley in the closing moments.

Linfield leapfrogged Derry City into fourth spot with a 5-1 victory over the Candystripes at Midgley Park.

The visitors raced into an early lead through Tara O’Connor-Farren’s seventh minute finish but this was cancelled out by Northern Ireland international Keri Halliday sixty seconds later.

On form Linfield striker Eve Reilly then seized the mantle, edging the Blues in front after a quarter-of-an-hour before doubling her tally for the evening just six minutes after that!

And the 19-year-old claimed the match ball for the second successive week with her hat-trick goal moments after the interval, with Alex Clarke bagging a fifth for Linfield on the hour.

Lisburn Ladies v Crusaders Strikers, Sports Direct Women's Premiership
Crusaders’ captain Julie Nelson heads clear a Lisburn Ladies attack (Photo: Paul Harvey)

Meanwhile, at the Bluebell Stadium, it looked to be ending scoreless between Lisburn Ladies and Crusaders Strikers before Jessica McGuinness popped up in the fifth minute of added time to bag the last-gasp winner for the visitors.

The action continues on Sunday when Cliftonville defend the VBET Women’s League Cup against Lisburn Rangers in the final at the Blanchflower Stadium, kick-off 3pm and live on DAZN.

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