Cliftonville Ladies 3-2 Lisburn Rangers
CLIFTONVILLE are back in the driving seat in the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership title race after Caitlin McGuinness struck an 89th minute winner to stretch their lead at the top to six points over champions Glentoran who have played a game less..
Caitlin’s strike maintained the Reds’ 100% league record a battling Lisburn Rangers side had threatened to dent their title ambitions at Solitude in a rehearsal for the Electric Ireland Challenge Cup final later this month.
The visitors roared back from 2-0 down to level before half-time and, try as they might, the Reds were simply unable to find the strike that would preserve their six point lead at the top of the table until McGuinness’ last-gasp intervention made it an incredible 14 wins from 14 League outings.
A sixth minute opener from Danielle Maxwell put Cliftonville in front and, when McGuinness pounced to double the hosts’ advantage, supporters could have been forgiven for thinking that John McGrady’s side were comfortably on course for another victory.
Fellow Irish Cup Finalists Rangers had other ideas, though, and pulled one back from the penalty spot 10 minutes before the break and demonstrated great determination to force the ball home for 2-2 shortly afterwards.
In the second period, Cliftonville were repeatedly frustrated in their attempts to resume the lead, with Abbie Magee, Marissa Callaghan and Fi Morgan all seeing opportunities come and go.
Toni Leigh Finnegan’s header was turned against the crossbar on 82 minutes and Morgan nodded over the top before the pressure finally told when substitute Kirsty McGuinness found younger sister Caitlin, who hooked in from an acute angle to earn three previous points.
Cliftonville’s final home game of the Premiership season sees title rivals Glentoran Women visit Solitude on Sunday, October 5, by which stage the east Belfast side will have contested their game in hand, meaning another high octane occasion is on the cards in BT14.
Cliftonville Ladies: McAllister, Burrows, Doherty, Morgan, Finnegan, Maxwell, McDaniel, C. McGuinness, Devine, Callaghan, Magee subs McCarter, Carleton, K. McGuinness, O’Neill, Markey, O. McGuinness, Anderson
Lisburn Rangers: Higgins, F. Loughran, Donnan, Parker, Gelston Mulholland, Dickson, Megaw, McConnell, Tumelty, M. Loughran, G. Conway subs D. Conway, Kelly-Bradley, Walker, Keenan
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | FORM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cliftonville Ladies | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 8 | 61 | 42 | WWWWWW |
| 2 | Glentoran Women | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 73 | 7 | 66 | 36 | WWWWW |
| 3 | Linfield Women | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 57 | 22 | 35 | 28 | WLDWW |
| 4 | Lisburn Rangers | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 25 | WLDLLL |
| 5 | Crusaders Strikers | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 28 | -6 | 15 | DLWDW |
| 6 | Derry City Women | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 35 | -14 | 15 | WWLDL |
| 7 | Lisburn Ladies | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 47 | -32 | 11 | LLDLL |
| 8 | Larne Women | 15 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 53 | -36 | 9 | LWDLL |
| 9 | Mid Ulster Ladies | 14 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 86 | -79 | 1 | DLLLL |
