VICKY Carleton scored the only goal of the game as Cliftonville Ladies defeated Lisburn Rangers to ensure the title race will go down to the final day of the season.
Victory in the Reds’ final home match of the campaign lifted the Champions back to the top of the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership, a point ahead of Glentoran with a game more played.
But, regardless of what happens when fellow challengers Glentoran Women contest their game in hand tomorrow, the destination of the title will be determined when the top two lock horns at Blanchflower Stadium next Sunday.
A close-fought encounter was ultimately settled midway through the first-half when Naomi McLaughlin’s hard work saw her generate some space before finding Carleton, who found the net from approximately 12 yards.
Marissa Callaghan, Caitlin McGuinness and Carleton all went close to extending Cliftonville’s advantage before Callaghan struck the crossbar from distance.
Goalkeeper Rachael Norney also had to be alert to deny Rangers a leveller as the Reds extended their winning streak by adding three more crucial points to the pot.
Cliftonville Ladies: Norney, Burrows, Lynch, Devine, C. McGuinness, Carleton, O’Neill, Callaghan, O. McGuinness, Magee, McLaughlin. Subs: Watt, Morgan, K. McGuinness, Markey, Gallagher, Anderson, Thompson
Lisburn Rangers: Smith, Parker, McGreevy, Bell, Gelston Mulholland, Dickson, Megaw, Conway, Kelly-Bradley, Conway, Stanyte. Subs: Higgins, Bell, McConnell, Tumelty, Loughran, Keenan
Vicky Carleton goal celebration
Section A
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | FORM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cliftonville Ladies | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 7 | 38 | 43 | WWWWW |
| 2 | Glentoran Women | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 65 | 11 | 54 | 42 | WWWWW |
| 3 | Linfield Women | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 60 | 21 | 39 | 31 | WWLLL |
| 4 | Lisburn Rangers | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 25 | 35 | -10 | 21 | LLWLL |
Section B
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | FORM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Crusaders Strikers | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 27 | 39 | -12 | 21 | LWLWW |
| 6 | Derry City Women | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 19 | 38 | -19 | 15 | LWLLW |
| 7 | Lisburn Ladies | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 45 | -37 | 7 | LLDLW |
| 8 | Larne Women | 16 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 65 | -53 | 4 | LDLLL |
