Cliftonville maintained their 100% league record by securing a tenth consecutive Sports Direct Women’s Premiership win in an action-packed night of drama.
The Reds opened the scoring on 37 minutes as Naomi McLaughlin’s deep cross dropped to Marissa Callaghan who controlled the ball and blasted home from 15 yards to take a single goal lead into the break.
A resolute Derry City side caused Cliftonville problems throughout the game but a late double from Danielle Maxwell added some gloss to the scoreline, as the North Belfast club left the Maiden City three goals to the good, and three points better off.
There was late drama in the Lisburn derby at Crewe Park, as Lisburn Ladies came from behind to snatch a point at third placed derby rivals Lisburn Rangers.
It was the Ladies that opened the scoring through Rachel Kerr on 23 minutes and took their lead into the break.
Rangers hit back after the restart and Sophie Kelly Bradley scored the equaliser just before the hour, before Caoimhe Gelston Mulholland looked to have won it with only five minutes remaining.
Lisburn Ladies dug deep though and in the first minute of stoppage time, Danielle Winter found the equaliser to share the points across the Lisburn divide.
At Seaview, Linfield lost ground on the leading pack with a 1-1 draw against Crusaders Strikers, who played most of the second half with ten players.
Teenager Bernadette Ferreira opened the scoring for the Crues after 37 minutes, but her night turned sour with a second yellow card on 50 minutes.
Linfield took advantage of their extra player on the pitch, and ten minutes later Cora Chambers pounced for her tenth league goal of the season as both teams had to settle for a point.
At the bottom of the table, it was a huge victory for Larne in the battle to avoid relegation.
They raced into a three goal lead by half-time, as a double from Sasha Clare and a goal on the stroke of half-time from Hollie Johnston put Larne in complete control.
Mid Ulster rallied, and two second half goals in a six minute spell from Laura Kelly brought the home side right back into the game but with two minutes remaining Erin Montgomery scored to regain the two goal cushion, in a game that ended 4-2 to the visitors.
