CLIFTONVILLE were the big winners on a night when the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership title race took another dramatic twist.
Goals in each half gave the Reds a 2-0 away win over Linfield who started the night level on points with them in second place.
Cliftonville now have a clear three point advantage in second but remain two behind leaders Glentoran who maintained their position at the top with a hard fought 2-1 win at Lisburn Rangers.
Goals either side of half time from Jessica Foy (45) and Faye Loughran secured the points at Crewe Park with Gracie Conway netting and 87th minute reply for Rangers.
Caoirse Doherty scored twice in the first half to send Derry City on their way to a 3-1 win over Crusaders Strikers at the Brandywell.
Michelle McDaid pulled one back for Crusaders on 52 minutes with Tara O’Connor-Farren netting the insurance goal for the Candystripes on 78 minutes.
Derry are now well clear of the bottom two, Lisburn Ladies and Larne Women, who played out a goalless draw at the Bluebell.
LINE-UPS
Lisburn Rangers: Smith, Parker, McGreevy, T. Bell, Smyth, Dickson, Megaw, Magee, Kelly-Bradley, G. Conway, Stanyt. Subs: M. Bell, Donnan, D. Conway, McConnell, Tumelty, Loughran, Keenan
Glentoran Women: McKinnon, Loughran, Foy, McMaster, Keenan, Caldwell, Kerr, Vance, Wilson, Weir, Crompton. Subs: Rogan, Butler, McGlade, Moore, Bailie, McKearney, McCarron
Linfield Women: Currie, McMaster, Doherty, Sweetlove, Chambers, Bell, K. Loughrey, McDade, J. Loughrey, Reilly. Subs: Fitzsimmons, McKimm, Knox, McQuillan, Karrabecaj, Breen, Havern
Cliftonville Ladies: Norney, Burrows, Morgan, Lynch, C. McGuinness, Carleton, K. McGuinness, O’Nell, Callaghan, Magee, McLaughlin. Subs: McAllister, Devine, Markey, O. McGuinness, Gallagher, Anderson, Thompson
Lisburn Ladies: Maguire, Hall, Parker, Wilson, White, M. Harshaw, Gallen, Murphy, Moore, R. Harshaw, Kirkpatrick. Subs: Poots, Anderson, Alsaidi, Coyle, Sweeney, Carroll, Gibson
Larne Women: Sharkey, Clare, Otter, Wilgaus, Peachey, Gilmore, Brady, Johnston, O’Flaherty, Rebekah Robinson, Cameron. Subs: McGrady, Nellins, Haveron, Montgomery, Dougherty, Rachel Robinson
Derry City Women: Barr, Deery, Toland, McMonagle, Dunne, Redden, Dowey, Doherty, Crumlish-Hawes, Scott, McIntyre. Subs: Walsh, O’Connor-Farren, McConnell, Ferris, McDermott, Hegarty, Hazlett
Crusaders Strikers: Harvey-Clifford, Hamilton, Reid, Mann, Gargan, McDaid, Chalmers, Hassan, Horner, McLaren, Rea. Subs: McGuinness, Quinn, Morgan, Neill, Reilly, Stachura, Beckinsale
Cliftonville huddle and Blues v Reds action (below)
Glens strike and goal celebration (below)
Derry City goal celebration
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | FORM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glentoran Women | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 10 | 44 | 36 | WWWWW |
| 2 | Cliftonville Ladies | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 6 | 31 | 34 | WWWWW |
| 3 | Linfield Women | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 59 | 16 | 43 | 31 | WWWWL |
| 4 | Lisburn Rangers | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 23 | 26 | -3 | 18 | WLLLL |
| 5 | Crusaders Strikers | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 22 | 36 | -14 | 15 | LLLWL |
| 6 | Derry City Women | 13 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 34 | -17 | 12 | LLLLW |
| 7 | Lisburn Ladies | 13 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 42 | -38 | 4 | LLLLD |
| 8 | Larne Women | 13 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 56 | -46 | 4 | LLWLD |
