Linfield recently thrashed Cliftonville 8-2 in their penultimate match, to remain a point clear at the top of the Danske Bank NIFL Premiership.
Newry City stayed in close contention though, their 10-1 beating of basement side Ballymena United Allstars keeping them within a point of the leaders and with a game in hand.
Glentoran Belfast United leapfrogged Crusaders Strikers into fourth place after defeating them 3-0 away from home.
McGuinness Nets Treble
Louise McFrederick rifled Linfield through a crowded six yard box and Kirsty McGuinness’s driven cross led to a sliced attempted clearance from Marissa Callaghan going over her own keeper.
McGuinness then netted herself twice in swift succession, with Jade Dempster making it 5-0 after only 28 minutes.
Cliftonville replied in style with a Billie Simpson 30-yard strike into the top corner but a minute later and Jenifer McDade’s effort from the halfway line bounced over the visiting keeper and in.
McGuinness completed her hat trick before the break, with Cliftonville’s Cannavan first to score after the restart.
Ali Smyth, making her comeback from a broken jaw, then flicked on McDade’s pass for Megan Bell to drive home the final goal.
Newry Net Ten
Ballymena are still without a point following the big defeat at title-chasing Newry City, for whom Elenize Belem and Trudi Harbinson both scored three times.
Elenize Belem was first on the scoresheet, scoring either side of Harbinson’s first goal, while a Rebekah Reynolds own-goal made it 4-0 at half-time.
Celine Curtis and Harbinson got two each after the interval, Rachel Fulton pulled one back before Luany de Sousa found the bet and Belem got her third.
Newry’s game in hand on top of the table Linfield is against third-placed Sion Swifts, who still have a sniff of the championship themselves.
Glens Overtake Crusaders
Nadene Caldwell opened the scoring for Glentoran midway through the first half at Seaview.
Eimhear O’Prey doubled the advantage over the Strikers just after the hour mark with a header.
Rachel Rogan rounded off the scoring for the Glens with 15 minutes remaining.
Remaining Fixtures:
Wednesday August 23
Ballymena v Glentoran
Cliftonville v Crusade
Newry City v Sion Swift
Wednesday August 30
Glentoran v Cliftonville
Linfield v Newry City
Sion Swifts v Ballymena
