Danske Bank Women's Premiership: 7-up Reds in seventh heaven as winning streak continues
Cliftonville Ladies made it seven wins from seven in the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership after a battling performance saw them win at Linfield Ladies last night (Wednesday)
Former Blues striker Kirsty McGuinness (main pic) netted twice for John McGrady’s side, but the hosts tested the in-form side and Carla Devine had brought them level with a strike seven minutes after the break after McGuinness had opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.
Erin Montgomery restored the visitor’s advantage on the hour mark before McGuinness added her second and Cliftonville’s third eight minutes later to seal the win.
Lauren Wade bagged a hat-trick for Glentoran Women (pictured above) as they remained within five points of Cliftonville with a 7-0 victory over Derry City Women in East Belfast.
Cora Morgan opened the scoring for the hosts while Sarah Connolly also netted twice and close-season arrival Sasha Clare bagged her first goal for the club.
Crusaders Strikers secured a 4-1 win at Sion Swifts Ladies with Mairead McCann grabbing two headed goals.
An own goal from Caoimhe Walsh had given the Strikers an early lead before McCann doubled the advantage, but Kelly Crompton pulled a goal back for Sion before half-time.
However, the Crues were not to be denied with McCann heading home another before Northern Ireland international striker Emily Wilson added a fourth.
A hat-trick from Sara Stevenson gave Lisburn Ladies their first ever victory in the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership as they came from behind to defeat Mid Ulster Ladies 4-2.
Niamh O’Donnell had given Mid Ulster a 13th-minute lead but Stacey Murdough levelled for the visitors on the half hour mark.
Stevenson scored six minutes later from the penalty spot and grabbed another before the break, but Roisin Bolger halved the two-goal deficit midway through the second half.
Lisburn wrapped up the historic victory late on as Stevenson completed her hat-trick to secure three points as the league campaign now takes a break until August.
THE RESULTS AT A GLANCE:
Glentoran Women 7-0 Derry City Women (Morgan ’36, Connolly ’39, ’76, Wade ’42, ’53, ’56, Clare ‘75)
Linfield Ladies 1-3 Cliftonville Ladies (Devine ’52; K McGuinness ’45, ‘68 Montgomery ‘60)
Mid Ulster Ladies 2-4 Lisburn Ladies (O’Donnell ’13, Bolger ‘67; Murdough ’30, Stevenson pen ’36, 43, ‘70)
Sion Swifts Ladies 1-4 Crusaders Strikers (Crompton ’34; Walsh og ’23, McCann ’27, ’62, Wilson ‘82)