Two wonder strikes bookmarked an evening of great finishes for the Glens at Seaview this evening as the Champions recorded the same winning margin over Crusaders as they did in the league opener back in May.
With Annie Timoney and Emma McMaster still injured, Head Coach Kim Turner restructured the team into a back three of Sarah Tweedie, Aimee Neal and Jess Foy with a strengthened midfield. This had Jenna McKearney – scorer of the winner over Linfield last week – on the right side. This paid off in style after 15 minutes when McKearney took down a Jess Foy long ball on the right side of the Crues’ penalty area to hit a gloriously executed right foot shot that gave home keeper Abbie Smith no chance.
Next it was Rachel Rogan who shielded the ball and scored with a very confident finish after being put through and holding off 2 Crues defenders. Then McKearney turned provider as from her cross field pass the in-form Demi Vance finished the scoring for the half with a typically cool and composed finish inside the left upright.
Any concerns in the second half were eliminated after just two minutes. Again it was Rogie who took a touch and placed the ball inside the right post for her second of the night and 11th goal of the season.
Demi Vance then delivered identical figures with her second, and what a goal it was. Not for the first time this season Demi took the ball wide on the left and met it with a ferocious long-range effort that clattered the inside of the far post on its way into the back of the net.
Kim had taken the opportunity to introduce her recent signings, Ellie Butler and Kelly Crompton as substitutes on the hour mark. It paid off beautifully with nine minutes to go when Crompton – on her debut after joining from Sligo Rovers – scored a contender for goal of the season with a magnificent long range shot to complete a great night’s work for Glentoran.
Tonight’s results mean we still sit top of the league on equal points to Cliftonville, but the Reds have a game in hand. Next up is the Electric Ireland Challenge Cup semi final which for some reason will be played at Inver Park. That game takes place next Friday, 9th August.
Glentoran Women: Ashleigh McKinnon, Sarah Tweedie, Jess Foy (c), Sofie Keenan, Aimee Neal, Jenna McKearney, Chloe McCarron, Nadene Caldwell, Demi Vance, Rachel Rogan and Emily Wilson.
Subs: Kelly Bailie (for Neal 76), Megan Neill (for Caldwell 85), Rachel McIntyre, Aimee Kerr (for McKearney 60), Ellie Butler (for Rogan 60), Kelly Crompton (for Keenan 60),
