Our women went into Friday’s semi-final against Cliftonville Ladies determined to secure yet another place in the final of the Electric Ireland Challenge Cup, a competition we have dominated in recent seasons with consecutive showpiece victories over Linfield Ladies. Spurred on by great support, they did not disappoint. In a thrilling contest in which Kirsty McGuinness gave the Reds the lead early in the first half, the Glens roared back with a headed equaliser from Emma McMaster and a Lauren Wade special to book their place in the final scheduled for 15 October at the National Stadium against Crusaders Strikers who prevailed 2-1 over Sion Swifts in the other semi-final tie at Mill Meadow, Castledawson.
The early stages of a tense game were generally incident free with both sides aiming to settle into their respective rhythms. The first chance of note came in the fifteenth minute when a Lauren Wade free kick from twenty yards just right of centre was easily claimed by Rachel Norney in the Reds goal. At the other end a Fi Morgan header from a McGuinness corner was on target but didn’t trouble McKinnon. With almost one third of the game gone and both sides still aiming to break the lines the Glens lost possession of the ball centrally and when McGuinness received the ball from Callaghan at her feet wide on the right she took one touch and fired over McKinnon to open the scoring. The Reds looked energised and the normal free-flowing Glens found it hard to maintain possession of the ball as the Reds worked hard to close down their opponents and break up play. However, chances did present with Beattie stabbing wide from close range after good approach play from Foy and Andrews firing wide over the bar following a clever corner routine that saw her evade White’s attention along the by-line. An unfortunate injury to Casey Howe meant that Danielle Maxwell entered the fray for the closing minutes of the first period. And as the half drew to a close a Glentoran corner routine led to the equaliser. Wade touched the ball to Andrews who quickly fed Foy at the apex of the penalty area. Foy’s curling cross was met expertly by Emma McMaster, deputising for Nadene Caldwell, to head the Glens level; such a well-worked goal and a perfect way to end a keenly contested first half.
Half-time Cliftonville Ladies 1-1 Glentoran Women
An eventful start to the second half saw both sides open up a little in terms of their attacking play. Caragh Hamilton, returning after a long injury lay-off, replaced Emma McMaster and it seemed likely that the Glens would use Hamilton’s pace on the right side of midfield to ease the pressure on Andrews and McCarron in the middle allowing them to attack with more intent. When McGuinness was upended by the chasing Shannon Dunne in the fiftieth minute, referee Louise Thompson was left with no choice but to award the penalty. The usually reliable McGuinness was denied by a smart save from McKinnon to keep the score level at a crucial point in the game. When Foy was unceremoniously stopped in her tracks following a penetrating run that took her deep into the Reds half in the fifty-third minute, Reds captain Megan Moran was fortunate to avoid a red card. Mounting Glens pressure led to a McCarron snapshot flying wide of the target with an hour gone in the game. Some defensive reorganisation was required with a quarter of an hour to go as McMaster replaced Dunne while Timoney moved into the centre of defence to partner Bailie. With the Glens looking more likely to score again as a result of the control taken in the centre of the park by McCarron and Andrews, our reliable defensive unit still had to remain alert to thwart the advances of McDaniel, Callaghan and McGuinness. And then the defining action of the game. McCarron’s quick thinking enabled her to find Wade on the left flank in the seventy-second minute from where she cut inside to unleash an unstoppable drive into the Reds net to give the holders a 2-1 lead with less than twenty minutes remaining. Cue wild celebrations, but still some way to go in this game. A great chance to make it 3-1 was spurned by Maxwell three minutes later when a lack of composure in front of goal saw her fire high over the bar. Fine hold-up play from the tireless Beattie opened up a gap for the impressive McCarron to shoot narrowly over again. And remarkably another chance went begging in the eighty-second minute when a Beattie through ball found the normally reliable Lauren Wade, who shot wide. A tense end to a pulsating second half contest produced no further goals and the final whistle was greeted by scenes of celebration on the pitch and in the stand as our women booked their place in yet another cup final. Congratulations to all players and staff and best wishes for the final.
Our next game, a dress rehearsal for the showpiece final in October, is a crucial league encounter against Crusaders at Seaview on Wednesday 1 September, kick-off at 20.00. As usual, all support is welcome.
Match Report by Mark Andrews
Glentoran Women: 1. Ashleigh McKinnon 2. Annie Timoney 3. Jessica Foy (captain) 4. Emma McMaster 17. Joely Andrews 18. Danielle Maxwell 21. Kelly Bailie 24. Lauren Wade 27.Shannon Dunne 97.Chloe McCarron
Subs: 10. Alison McMaster 14. Jenna McKearney 18. Danielle Maxwell 22. Cara Mervyn 26. Caragh Hamilton