Linfield Women midfielder Megan Bell has been named the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership Player of the Month for June by the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association.
Bell had a stellar month bolstered by a hot streak in front of goal which saw her score a hat-trick as the Blues beat Crusaders Strikers 9-1 before going on to find the net again in an 8-1 win over Lisburn Ladies.
The 25-year-old also struck her fourth international goal when she tucked away a superb penalty in Northern Ireland’s 2-1 Women’s World Cup qualifying defeat in Turkey at the start of the June.
“It means a lot. We had a good month as a team and I was happy to contribute,” said Bell on her award.
Linfield currently top the Women’s Premiership table on goal difference from Glentoran Women after a 2-2 draw with their Big Two rivals in their last league game. The Glens do have a match in hand.
The Blues also have a County Antrim Cup semi-final against Crusaders Strikers to look forward to at the start of August. Before that comes an Irish FA Women’s Challenge Cup second round clash with Mid Ulster Ladies.
“We’ve had a good start, but it is still very early on in the season. We don’t want to get too carried away,” said Bell.
“We go into every game wanting to win and we’ll see where it takes us at the end of the season.”
Bell is in her second spell with Linfield in the Women’s Premiership after stints with Durham, Hearts Women, Rangers and Nottingham Forest.
She says she is enjoying her time back at Linfield and hopes to keep playing her part as the Blues sit firmly in the title picture.
At the start of July she helped Ryan McConville’s side beat Lisburn Rangers and Bell also scored in that 2-2 draw with title rivals Glentoran.
“It took me a while to find my feet but I’m feeling more like myself every week. I’m very happy and I think playing every week helps with that,” she said.
