It was honours even on Friday night at Solitude, as the top two sides Cliftonville and Glentoran played out a thrilling 2-2 draw to remain level on points at the summit of the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership.
It was a record-breaking fixture, with an attendance 868. The fans present were treated to a fine display of football in some welcome early summer sunshine.
The hosts charged into a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Marissa Callaghan and Danielle Maxwell. But Glentoran came storming back in the second-half with strikes from Caragh Hamilton and Demi Vance to keep the east Belfast women top of the table.
From the off Cliftonville looked to have serious intent going forward, with Caitlin McGuiness and Maxwell the usual suspects. On 13 minutes the pressure told upon a usually resolute Glens defence. Louise McDaniel striding through the Glentoran half before sliding the ball to Caitlin McGuiness wide right in the penalty area, she in-turn played the ball to the back post where Callaghan slid in to toe the ball home from a yard out. 1-0 to the hosts.
Just six minutes later the side from the north of the city doubled their lead. Kim Turner’s side failed to deal with a Cliftonville free-kick which landed inside their box, the ball then fell to the edge of the area and Maxwell thumped home a superb first-time effort that flew high-left into the Glens goal leaving the goalkeeper no chance.
John McGrady’s reigning champions seemed happy to play on the counter-attack at this point of the game but the Oval side pushed hard for a way back into the game with Kerrie Beattie going close.
This close escape seemed to spur Glentoran into life. On 63 minutes, Reds’ captain Callaghan played a 30-yard backpass to her goalkeeper. However, she did not see the sniping Hamilton, who raced onto the loose ball, and calmly stroked home beyond Norney.
The visitors were not done there. They continued the following eleven minutes with sustained pressure on the host’s goal. After a number of close attempts, the equaliser came. A corner from the left was prodded home smartly at the near post by the impressive Demi Vance to level the game up.
The Glens could have taken all three points at the death, with a superb free-kick effort from Emma McMaster but her effort struck the crossbar and the game finished all-square.
Elsewhere in round seven, Larne got their first ever victory in the Premiership, edging Derry 3-2 in an enthralling encounter at the Brandywell last Wednesday. Katherine Haveron opened the scoring for Larne on 28 minutes only for Ellie Redden to level almost immediately for the Candystripes.
Leah Wilgaus restored Larne’s advantage moments from the break but Redden struck again for the Foyle outfit shortly after the interval. Just as it looked like both teams would share the spoils, Hollie Johnston struck Larne’s third to send the travelling support wild with delight.
Linfield Women and Sion Swifts Ladies battled out a 1-1 draw in the third versus fourth contest at Midgley Park. Lauren Haynes scored to put Sion in front on 38 minutes, before Keri Halliday brought the Blues level on the half-time whistle and that’s how it stayed.
At Seaview, hosts Crusaders Strikers fell to a disappointing defeat to Lisburn Ladies, with the winner coming via substitute Aisling Cull with a cool finish past the Crues’ goalkeeper with 12 minutes remaining.
Finally, Mid Ulster Ladies and Ballymena United Women failed to produce any goals at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena as it finished 0-0.
Looking ahead, Derry entertain Glentoran on Tuesday evening - with the visitors hoping to charge ahead at the top of the table – before all 10 sides take to the field in a bumper Friday night.
