While Strabane Athletic, Raceview and Civil Service all clinched NIWFA league titles, the Championship still has a few weeks to run.
The league’s top two sides, Sion Swifts and St James Swifts, both won to ensure the race for the title remains ongoing with Sion two points clear and a game in hand. Swifts remained top of the table by overpowering Comber Rec, Cache Crumlish-Hawes and Rachel Barnaby both hitting a hat-trick.
St.James romped home against Foyle Belles, Chloe Tully leading the way with four goals, trebles for Katie Rose Rice, Roise Thompson, Siobhan Bell and Brooke Baine.
Bangor’s hopes of the title now seem all but over, as they were held 2-2 at home by Camlough Rovers to fall eight points off top spot with only three games remaining. Bangor’s goals came from Kirsten Palmer and Megan Gore, with Rachel McCabe at the double for the visitors.
Ballymena United secured all three points at Ballyclare with goals from Claire Shaw and Megan Henry, as they leapfrogged Bangor into third place but still seven points off the leaders.
Belfast Celtic edged home 3-2 against local rivals St.Oliver Plunkett. Celtics goals came from Niamh Adams, Sara Louise McLaughlin and Katherine O’Hare, with SOP’s replies by Niamh McGonigle and Megan Copeland.
Victories for Greenisland, Ballymoney United, Rosario and Ambassadors left Division One winners as Greenisland by five points from Ballymoney, who were ahead of third-placed Ambassadors by the same margin.
Strabane Athletic won Division Two but were made to fight all the way before overcoming Lisburn Ladies Swifts 4-3. The Swifts had led twice on the night but Strabane kept battling back. Craigavon finished the season in second place after defeating Coleraine 4-1.
A draw between Carrick Rangers and Maiden City saw the latter take second spot in Division Three by one point from their hosts, with Lisbellaw the champions.
Raceview are Division Four champions after they defeated second placed Antrim Town 3-2. Things could have been very different but for the width of the woodwork which, on no less than three occasions, saw Antrim’s efforts thwarted.
In Division Five’s big game this week, Oxford Sunnyside defeated Ards Rangers 2-0 to ensure they finished as runners up to Valley Rangers.
Wins for champions Greenisland II, Wellington Rec, First Bangor and a draw between Carrick Rangers Falcons II and Bloomfield closed out the Division Six season, in which Carrick finished runners up.
Civil Service Ladies won the Development league title.
Round up by Colin Hopkins
