CLIFTONVILLE Ladies hit back from two goals down at the break to defeat Glentoran Women at Seaview and claim the VBET Women’s League Cup for a record breaking third successive season.
Glentoran needed just four minutes to seize the advantage when, following a defensive mix up, Emily Wilson pounced from inside the box to fire into the bottom right corner.
Wilson struck again just after the half-hour mark to double Glentoran’s lead when she got on the end of a Demi Vance through ball to send a powerful finish past keeper Rachael Norney.
But Cliftonville weren’t going to relinquish their hold on the trophy easily, and almost pulled a goal back early in the second half when Kirsty McGuinness’ free-kick wasn’t cleared allowing Teegan Lynch to crash an effort off the crossbar from close range.
However, the Reds did reduce the deficit moments later when Naomi McLaughlin managed to knock the ball forward for Caitlin McGuinness to unleash an impressive effort into the bottom corner.
Then, on 62 minutes, Caitlin bagged her second of the afternoon to bring Brendan Lynch’s side back onto level terms after she got her head to a right-sided McLaughlin corner at the near post.
The comeback was completed with just over six minutes remaining.
Once again McLaughlin provided the crucial ball – a free-kick from the right – that Fionnula Morgan knocked on for Marissa Callaghan at the far post to head beyond Ashleigh McKinnon.
Things worsened for Glentoran in stoppage time when Kascie Weir was red carded following an alleged off-the-ball incident involving Fionnuala Morgan.
And just to make sure in the fourth minute of added time substitute Carla Devine wrapped the scoring up when she was found by McLaughlin unmarked on the edge of the six yard box to fire home into the unguarded net.
Cliftonville Ladies: Norney, Morgan, Lynch, C. McGuinness, Carleton, K. McGuinness, O’Neill, Callaghan, O. McGuinness, Magee, McLaughlin. Subs: Watt, McKimm, Devine, Markey, Gallagher, Anderson, Thompson
Glentoran Women: McKinnon, McMaster, Keenan, Caldwell, Kerr, Vance, Wilson, Neal, Weir, Moore, McKearney. Subs: Butler, McKnight, Bailie, Crompton, Maguire, Gardner
Emily Wilson celebrates her first goal (above) and second (below)
Pre-match huddles
Marissa Callaghan
The Cliftonville fightback begins
Marissa celebrates
