LINFIELD Women hit six goals without reply past Crusaders Strikers to remain top of the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership.
Eva Myles was the star of the show for the Blues with a superb quick fire hat-trick in the first half, bagging three goals in five minutes around the half-hour mark.
Zoe McGlynn added a fourth just before the break before, midway through the second half, Eve Reilly made it 5-0 with Cora Chambers wrapping it all up with a sixth 10 minutes from time.
Crusaders Strikers: Glover, Hamilton, McGivern, Nelson, Mann, McCann, Gargan, McDaid, Chalmers, McLaren, Rea. Subs: Reid, McGuinness, Beggs, Quinn, Morgan, Neill, Reilly
Linfield Women: Mitchell, McMaster, Doherty, McGlynn, Chambers, McKimm, Bell, K. Loughrey, Myles, McDade, Reilly. Subs: Magee, Kerr, McQuillan, Breen, Hutchinson, J. Loughrey, Havern
Elsewhere, goals from Jess Foy, Rachel Rogan and Kascie Weir helped Glentoran Women get the better of Derry City Women at the Brandywell.
Foy opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a tap in after Demi Vance’s set piece reached her at the back post.Rogan then doubled up less than five minutes after tht with a composed finish after a dangerous ball into the box landed at her feet.
The Candystripes pulled one back through Tara O’Connor-Farren a couple of minutes into the second half, but Weir tapped home Glentoran’s third moments after that only for O’Connor-Farren to double her tally almost instantly to bring City right back into the game.
However Rogan hit her second of the evening on 55 minutes from a brilliantly executed Faye Loughran pass to ultimately secure the points for the Glens.
Lisburn Rangers moved back into the top half of the table with victory away to Larne Women.
The visitors opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark when Tierna Bell found the net after connecting with a cross.
Larne levelled just before the break, however, when Kirsty Cameron caught the Rangers defence by surprise.But the Rangers regained the advantage with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining through Gracie Conway before, nine minutes after that, Abbie Smyth extended their lead with a well placed shot.
Sasha Clare did have the ball in the net for Larne moments later but her strike was ruled out offside.
The action continues on Saturday evening when Cliftonville Ladies come up against Georgian champions Lanchkhuti in the UEFA Women’s Champions League first qualifying round final in Kosovo, kick-off 6.00pm.
The Reds had previously accounted for KFF Mitrovica on Wednesday courtesy of a superb Carla Devine hat-trick after they had trailed at the break.
There’s also an outstanding Premiership game pencilled in for Monday night as Larne welcome Glentoran to Inver Park.
Derry City line up and mascots v Glens
Lisburn Rangers on their way at Larne (above and below)
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | FORM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linfield Women | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 11 | 34 | 22 | WWWWW |
| 2 | Glentoran Women | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 8 | 23 | 21 | WWWLW |
| 3 | Cliftonville Ladies | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 15 | 16 | WWWLW |
| 4 | Lisburn Rangers | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 15 | WLWLW |
| 5 | Crusaders Strikers | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 21 | -5 | 12 | LLLWL |
| 6 | Derry City Women | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 21 | -9 | 9 | LLLWL |
| 7 | Lisburn Ladies | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 21 | -17 | 3 | LLLLL |
| 8 | Larne Women | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 46 | -43 | 0 | LLLLL |
