ON-FIRE Marissa Callaghan hit a hat-trick as Cliftonville Ladies climbed to the top of the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership with a comprehensive 8-1 victory over Lisburn Rangers at Crewe Park on Monday evening.
The Reds moved three points clear of Glentoran in this rehearsal for October’s Electric Ireland Challenge Cup final.
Knowing that anything other than a defeat would be enough to take them to the summit, the Reds set about their task early on and were rewarded with two Callaghan goals in the opening six minutes.
The midfielder completed her treble from the penalty spot just before the half-hour mark ahead of Kirsty McGuinness rounding off the first-half scoring to make it four at the break.
It was 5-0 when Danielle Maxwell got her name on the scoresheet almost immediately after the interval, with McGuinness claiming her second of the night in eye-catching style on 50 minutes.
Substitute Carla Devine hit the Reds’ seventh and, after Maxwell added number eight, the hosts claimed a late consolation to wrap up the scoring in Glenavy.
