Sports Direct Women's Premiership: Reds return to the top of the table

Cliftonville Ladies moved back to the top of the Sports Direct Women's Premiership with victory over Larne Women on Sunday afternoon, while Derry City Women picked up their first win of the campaign after defeating Crusaders Strikers.

The Reds made it three wins from three with a dominant performance against Larne at Solitude.

Fionnula Morgan opened the scoring as early as the third minute with a close range finish from a corner, but Larne hit back moments later when Maddie Brant, on her debut for the club, directed a header past keeper Erin McAllister.

Kirsty McGuinness restored Cliftonville's lead a couple of minutes after that, however, with a stunning 25-yard left-foot effort beyond Cerys Sharkey.

Younger sister Caitlin followed up with a couple of goals of her own midway through the first half before Kirsty bagged her second of the afternoon moments from the break.

Danielle Maxwell added to Cliftonville's tally on 50 minutes, with Kirsty then bagging her hat-trick goal just after the hour when she ran onto Abbie Magee's pass to score from an acute angle.

Carla Devine completed the scoring ten minutes from the end from the edge of the six yard box.

Meanwhile, at the Brandywell, goals from Kayleigh Carlin, Amy McFarland and Chelsea Sheerin guided Derry City to a 3-1 win over Crusaders Strikers.

Scoreless for most of the half, the deadlock was broken six minutes from the break when Carlin swept the ball home from just outside the six yard box after Ellie Redden had knocked on Shantelle Temple's set piece.

McFarland doubled the home advantage just past the hour mark with a finish in off the post after Shannon Dunne's effort from a long ball into the area was charged down by Crues keeper Maddy Harvey-Clifford.

Then, on 76 minutes, Sheerin added a third for the Candystripes when she turned the loose ball into the unguarded net after Harvey-Clifford had done well to block Caoirse Doherty's initial attempt.

Claire Shaw pulled one back for the Strikers with a nice finish a couple of minutes after that but City held on to secure all three points.

The weekend action began on Friday night with victories for Lisburn Rangers and Glentoran Women.

Rangers, in their maiden season in the top flight and having already booked a place in next month's League Cup final, continued their impressive start to the campaign after coming from behind to defeat Linfield at Midgley Park to move into pole position for a couple of days.

Sarah-Jane McMaster had given the Blues the edge midway through the first half, but Caoimhe Gelston Mulholland hit back for Rangers ten minutes from the break.

The visitors then moved in front through Gracie Conway a minute into the second half, with Sophie Kelly-Bradley extending their advantage just after the hour.

Bernadette Ferreira pulled one back for the Blues with around 12 minutes remaining, but two late goals saw Rangers pull through to claim the points.

Gelston Mulholland doubled her tally on 82 minutes, but the goal of the evening was reserved for Ellie-Mae Dickson moments after that with a stunning finish from just past the halfway line!

At the Blanchflower Stadium, Kerry Beattie and Demi Vance grabbed four goals apiece as Glentoran enjoyed a veritable goal feast at the expense of Mid Ulster Ladies.

In addition to Beattie and Vance, Joely Andrews, Rachel Rogan and Kascie Weir all bagged two each while Nadene Caldwell, Jenna McKearney, Sofie Keenan, Emily Wilson and Megan Neill also found the net.