Linfield took the chance to retake the Danske Bank Premiership top spot from non-playing Newry City, by winning at Glentoran despite losing their goalkeeper before the game.
Wednesday 5th July
DANSKE BANK NIFL PREMIERSHIP
Ballymena United All Stars 0-4 Crusaders Strikers
Cliftonville 2-4 Sion Swifts
Glentoran Belfast United 1-3 Linfield
Linfield Lose Goalie But Beat Glens
Linfield are a point clear at the top following their 3-1 victory over local rivals Glentoran Belfast United, despite losing goalkeeper Lauren Perry to injury before the game.
The hosts’ Jess Foy gifted Linfield a 10th-minute own-goal after a Chloe McCarron effort came back off the post.
With 20 minutes played it was 2-0, Kirsty McGuinness shooting across keeper Ashleigh McKinnon.
Dani Ennis quickly halved the deficit, following up when a Kerry Eddis free kick was dropped by stand-in keeper Louise McFredrick.
Rebecca McKenna was denied a leveller from 6 yards out, afterwhich Megan Bell sealed the win for the visitors with their third goal.
Swifts’ Double Decker
Sion Swifts’ 4-2 success at Cliftonville from their game in hand, moved them to within 3 points of Newry.
Leah McAvoy made it 1-0 to Cliftonville from a free kick but Sion turned it around after the break, Geny Decker firing home from 30 yards before Tyley Tolands headed them 2-1 up.
Joey McCarthy grabbed an equaliser for the Reds but Decker’s second restored the advantage with 12 mins left to play and Kelly Crompton then made sure of the points when turning in Kendra McMullan’s corner.
Sion will go level on points with second-placed Newry City, should they defeat Crusaders Strikers in Friday’s fixture in Castlederg.
Connolly Brace Helps Crues Beat Ballymena
Crusaders Strikers rose to fourth when putting four goals past Ballymena, who have failed to register a point in all nine games.
Nicole Connolly opened the scoring at the Showgrounds, with Helen Curneen doubling the lead from the spot.
Taylor Wright made it 3-0 early in the second half and the final goal came before the hour mark, as Connolly netted again with a near-post finish from a Lisa Armour cross.
