This showdown between the two contenders for the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership lived up to its billing at Ashfield tonight.
Cliftonville had the better of the opening exchanges, without causing too many problems for a resolute home defence and opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Caitlin McGuinness neatly touched the ball home after a left wing run and cross from her sister Kirsty.
The Reds continued to press and just before the half hour mark the Glens were hit with another blow when keeper Ellie Scott appeared to damage a knee after coming out to decisively grab the ball from the feet of a Cliftonville attacker. The young keeper attempted to play on but in vain as she had to limp off and be replaced by the experienced Ashley McKinnon.
Both sides attacked with purpose for the rest of the half with decent Glens efforts from Demi Vance. Emma McMaster and Nadene Caldwell coming to nothing as the Reds – having had a second McGuinness goal rightly ruled rightly - maintained their lead into half time.
If the visitors had the better of the first half, the second definitely belonged to a resurgent Glens. Their early pressure paid off 4 minutes after the break when Nadene Caldwell was fouled in the Cliftonville box. Glentoran and the league’s top scorer stepped up to take the resultant penalty which she confidently dispatched for her 26th goal in 16 league games and her 35th for the season overall. A fantastic performance from the 21-year-old.
From this point on the Glens were dominant with various efforts on goal from Demi Vance, Emily Wilson, Joely Andrews, Dino Caldwell, One effort was headed off the line and another hit the crossbar. The winner that would have clinched the title tonight didn’t come as the game ended.
The Glens will be the happier with this result as it means we remain 9 points clear at the top of the table with 2 games to play, although the Reds have 2 games in hand in this tightly fought title race. The next league game is on Sunday at Seaview when we face second placed Crusaders Strikers who mathematically can’t catch us but who are themselves on a 7-game unbeaten run in the league. Kick off on the Shore Road is at 2pm. Get out and give the girls some much deserved support.
Photography by Johnny Caldwell
Glentoran Women: Ellie Scott, Sarah Tweedie, Jess Foy (c), Emma McMaster, Annie Timoney, Nadene Caldwell, Demi Vance, Chloe McCarron, Joely Andrews, Kerry Beattie, Emily Wilson
Subs: Ashleigh McKinnon (for Scott 28) ,Kelly Bailie, Megan Neill, Rachel McIntyre, Kascie Weir, Rachel Rogan (for Beattie 87)
