Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.1 2022-23

Cliftonville Ladies stay eight points clear at the top of the table after they ran out 6-0 winners away
to Mid Ulster Ladies on Monday night. Caitlin McGuinness netted twice to put the Reds two goals
ahead, with Marissa Callaghan adding a third ahead of half time. Megan Moran increased their lead
further after the restart, before Caitlin McGuinness added two more to complete a four-goal haul on
the night.
Two late goals earned Glentoran a 3-1 victory over Sion Swifts which keeps their title hopes
alive. Kerry Beattie put the Glens ahead during the first half, with Sion equalising through Kerry
Brown before the interval. The game remained in the balance until fifteen minutes from time, when
Caragh Hamilton restored Glentoran’s lead and Imogen Lancaster wrapped up the points with the
third goal.
Crusaders Strikers stay three points behind in third place following their 5-0 success away
to Lisburn Ladies. Meghan Ingram gave the Crues a sixteenth minute lead which was doubled on
the half hour by Morganne Beggs, before Emily Wilson netted a brace just ahead of half time. Abigail
Redmond completed the scoring for
Crusaders with the fifth goal in injury time. P W D L F A Pts GD
Linfield Ladies are back in the top CLIFTONVILLE LADIES 11 11 0 1 0 1 52 3 7 33 49
8
10
31
25
38
GLENTORAN
half of the table after scoring seven times CRUSADERS STRIKERS 11 7 1 3 27 18 22 9
without reply against Derry City. Ebony LINFIELD LADIES 12 5 2 5 28 23 17 5
Leckey gave them a third minute lead, SION SWIFTS 11 5 2 4 21 18 17 3
which they took into the interval, with Carla LISBURN LADIES 12 2 2 8 12 37 8 -25
Devine adding a second within a minute of DERRY CITY 10 0 3 7 2 37 3 -35
the restart. Louise McFrederick made in MID ULSTER LADIES 11 0 1 10 7 43 1 -36
three on the hour, before Linfield went on to
crown the win with doubles from Sienna Glentoran 3 Sion 1; Linfield 7 Derry 0; Lisburn 0 Crusaders 5;
Mid Ulster 0 Cliftonville 6.
Leckey and Keri Halliday.
Northern Ireland Under-17 team narrowly lost 1-0 to Belgium in a friendly in Belfast on Wednesday
afternoon. A goal from Belgian winger Sam Van Rompuy separated the two sides at Cliftonville FC’s
Solitude stadium.
The visitors looked strong throughout, and enjoyed lots of possession, however Northern
Ireland competed well and played some fine football, too. Both teams had half chances before
Belgium almost grabbed the lead as the 20 minute mark approached. A clearance fell at the feet of
striker Pia Bosmans just outside the area and she produced a thunderous shot which smashed off the
underside of the bar. The ball bounced on the goal line before Northern Ireland keeper Ellie Scott
grabbed it.
Northern Ireland winger Rachel McIntyre tricked her way into the area but her shot was
comfortably gathered by Belgian keeper Zoe Van Wijmeersch. Down the other end, a low drive from
Anisa Ademi was collected by Scott, who then clasped a shot from Bosmans.
Belgium took the lead on 29 minutes. Scott pushed out a looping long range drive from defender
Tabagari Gvansta and Van Rompuy was quickest to the loose ball to stab it home from close range.
With captain Margaux Martle pulling the strings in midfield, Belgium continued to press
without creating clear cut chances as Northern Ireland defended resolutely. Debutants Sophie Magee
and Orleigha McGuinness looked extremely solid alongside Abi Sweetlove and Niamh O’Donnell.
Just after the break Northern Ireland captain Aimee Kerr screwed a shot inches wide of the post.
The home side pushed forward with Weir and McIntyre combining well, while Belgium had a couple
of half chances and Belgium substitute Adewusi Rose smashed an effort off target.
On 66 minutes, Kerr’s superb pass sent substitute Rhianna Breen free, however Belgium’s
substitute keeper, Shirley Solheid, cleared her low shot from an angle with her feet. It was a fine stop.
Northern Ireland substitute keeper Kate Smith also handled well as Belgium threatened to score a
second in the closing stages.
Northern Ireland U-17: Ellie Scott, Orleigha McGuinness, Niamh O’Donnell, Abi Sweetlove,
Sophie Magee, Darcie McNeill, Rachel McIntyre, Faye Loughran, Kascie Weir, Aimee Kerr, Sophie
Gargan. Substitutes: Mia Moore, Kate Smith, Gracie Conway, Rhianna Breen, Ellen Hampton.
(irishfa.com)
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