Sports Direct Women’s Premiership round-up… goals galore in wins for Cliftonville, Linfield and Lisburn Rangers

Linfield celebrate

LINFIELD Women displayed their ruthless streak as they swept aside Larne Women at the Academy of Sport.

The visitors were ahead inside six minutes when Sophie McKnight opened the scoring to set the tone for the evening.

Megan Bell doubled Linfield’s advantage on 16 minutes before adding her second and her side’s third midway through the half.

Zoe McGlynn added a fourth three minutes before the break before Cora Chambers grabbed number five in first-half stoppage time.

Linfield showed no signs of easing up after the restart and extended their lead further when Chloe Doak turned the ball into her own net 10 minutes into the second half.

Substitute Eve Reilly added a seventh on 67 minutes before Jane McMaster struck soon after as the visitors continued to dominate possession and create chances at will. Rhianna Breen completed the scoring with Linfield’s ninth goal with just over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

Larne Women: Sharkey, Walker, McDade, Tully, Quinn, Dougherty, Johnston, O’Flaherty, Robinson, Otter, Doak

Subs Newman, Haveron, Wilgaus, Walsh, Montgomery, Johnston

Linfield Women: Woods, McMaster, Sweetlove, McGlynn, Chambers, McKimm, Bell, Loughrey, McKnight, McLaren, Reilly

Subs Mitchell, Myles, Knox, Kerr, Breen, McLarnon, Russell

Cliftonville celebrate

CLIFTONVILLE Ladies claimed the bragging rights in the north Belfast derby as they swept aside Crusaders Strikers at Seaview.

The visitors needed just five minutes to break the deadlock when Kirsty McGuinness drilled a composed finish into the bottom corner.

They doubled their lead four minutes later as Fionnuala Morgan rose highest to meet Danielle Maxwell’s corner from the left, powering a header home after outmuscling her marker.

Crusaders struggled to cope with Cliftonville’s movement and intensity, and the pressure told again in first-half stoppage time when Charlotte Havern reacted quickest to a loose ball in the area before firing a strong right-footed finish beyond the keeper.

The Reds continued to dominate after the interval and added a fourth on 56 minutes.

Kirsty McGuinness delivered from the left and, after Erin McAllister failed to gather cleanly, Caitlin McGuinness was on hand to convert from close range.

Caitlin McGuinness grabbed her second of the evening with 11 minutes remaining, showing sharp poacher’s instinct to turn home after an initial effort from sister Kirsty had been saved.

Charlotte Havern also completed her brace late on, arriving at the far post to finish from Hannah Doherty’s low delivery following an impressive flowing move.

The scoring was completed in stoppage time when Chloe Beckinsale turned the ball into her own net under pressure after Caitlin McGuinness had forced another save from McAllister.

Crusaders Strikers: McAllister, Hassan, J. Nelson, McNeill, Gargan, McDaid, Redmond, Fitzsimmons, Beckinsale, A. Nelson, Rea.

Subs Reid, J. McGuinness, Mann, Beggs, Horner, Bassett, Morgan

Cliftonville Ladies: Harvey-Clifford, Doherty, Morgan, Lynch, McDaniel, C. McGuinness, Carleton, K. McGuinness, Maxwell, O. McGuinness, Magee

Subs Burrows, O’Neill, Havern, Gallagher, Anderson, Thompson, Kelly

Lisburn Rangers celebrate

LISBURN Rangers twice came from behind to claim a dramatic victory over Derry City Women in an entertaining five-goal contest at Crewe Park.

The Candystripes made the brighter start and took the lead after 25 minutes when Chelsea Sheerin rose highest at the back post to head home from a set piece delivery from the right.

Rangers found a route back into the game nine minutes after the restart when Caoimhe Gelston Mulholland levelled but parity lasted only two minutes as Cache Crumlish-Hawes restored Derry’s lead with a swift response.

The home side equalised again on 64 minutes when Erin McGreevy finished from close range after good work by Ellie-Mae Dickson.

Then, with the game finely poised and entering the closing stages, Rangers completed the turnaround six minutes from time through Abbie Smyth to secure all three points.

Lisburn Rangers: Bell, Clare, Parker, McGreevy, Mulholland, Smyth, Dickson, Megaw, McConnell, Murray, Stanyte

Subs Hutchinson, O’Rawe, Bell, Tumelty, Loughran, McConaghy

Derry City Women: McBride, Toland, McMonagle, O’Connor-Farren, Ferris, Dowey, Crumlish-Hawes, Hargan, Sheerin, Craig, McIntyre

Subs Barr, Deery, Caoirse Doherty, Caitlin Doherty, Scott, McDermott, Campbell