THE eight clubs remaining in the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup will take a huge step closer to reaching the end of season showdown when they take to the field for this weekend’s intriguing quarter-final ties.
Much focus will be centred upon the big north Belfast derby at Solitude as Cliftonville Ladies host near neighbours Crusaders Strikers.
The Reds, unbeaten domestically this season and with the League Cup already nestling in their trophy cabinet, currently sit second in the Women’s Premiership – level on points with leaders Glentoran Women but with a game in hand – while the Crues are in a somewhat uncharacteristic seventh following a challenging campaign so far.
Cliftonville go into the game on the back of a Carla Devine hat-trick inspired 5-0 league defeat of Mid Ulster Ladies last Friday night while the Strikers went down heavily at home to the Glens, and in the only other meeting between the pair so far this campaign goals from Vicky Carleton and Caitlin McGuinness saw the Reds come through to claim victory.
Holders Glentoran continue their defence of the trophy, and their quest to claim it for a sixth successive season, with a trip to east Antrim to take on Larne Women at Inver Park.
The League champions limbered up for Friday’s game with an impressive six-goal victory over Crusaders at Seaview, with Rachel Rogan and Demi Vance bagging two each alongside finishes from Jenna McKearney and Kelly Crompton.
Larne, eighth in the Premiership, lost by the odd goal in three in a dramatic closing few minutes away to Lisburn Ladies but Donald Malomo-Paris’ side have continually strengthened this season so will in no way be overawed by the visitors.
Indeed, the sides last met at the end of June with Glentoran running out 3-0 winners with two of those goals only coming in the last quarter-of-an-hour.
Mid Ulster Ladies will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes when they host Lisburn Rangers at Stangmore Park.
It has been a difficult season for Noel Mitchell’s side, but the current Mid Ulster Cup holders have been boosted in recent weeks by the return of senior international keeper Lilie Woods following a spell with Newcastle United, and comfortably accounted for the in-form Antrim Town Women in the last round.
Rangers, by contrast, are having a campaign to remember in their maiden season in the top flight. Having already reached the League Cup final, they sit third in the Premiership – just three points off the pace – having lost only once in their eight outings to date and knocked six past Derry City Women just last week.
The Candystripes are in action in the last quarter-final on Sunday afternoon when they travel to face Bangor Ladies at Clandeboye Road.
Bangor, third in the NIWFA Championship, are the lowest ranked side still in the competition and most recently fought back from two goals down to share the points with Ballymena United Women at The Showgrounds and have a NIWFA Super Cup semi-final with Greenisland to look forward to later this month.
Derry swept past Civil Service Ladies in the last round and, currently sixth in the Premiership, are enjoying their best season in recent years having recorded victories over Larne, Crusaders and Mid Ulster Ladies over the summer.
