In form champions Glentoran took their goal tally for their last four games to 26 without reply with tonight's rout of Linfield at Ashfield tonight.
A rampant Glentoran side romped to victory against cross city rivals Linfield with another eye-catching display on Wednesday evening at Ashfield. The home side opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute with a confident finish from Danske Bank Player of the Month for July, Kerry Beattie. Good play from Casey Howe released Nadene Caldwell down the right and the experienced midfielder’s whipped cross was met expertly at the near post by the in-form striker. Two minutes later a Joely Andrews strike from distance doubled the champions’ lead with Linfield keeper Nicole Adams being forced off through injury shortly afterwards and replaced by Lauren Currie in goal for the visitors. The substitute keeper didn’t have much time to settle into the game as the Glens made it three in the twenty-second minute with a sublime volley from captain Jess Foy following an excellent right-wing cross from the impressive Howe. The dominant Glens continued to pour forward exerting constant pressure on the Linfield back-line. Foy, often finding herself in an advanced position on the left, then doubled her own tally for the night with a speculative cross that dropped over Currie’s head and into the net to make it 4-0 after only twenty-five minutes played. The Blues’ misfortune continued as they were forced into another substitution not long after with centre back Vicki Carleton having to leave the action after a collision with Kelly Bailie in the penalty area. Although it seemed only a matter of time before the free-scoring Glens would further increase their goal count for the evening, the remainder of the half saw the youthful Linfield side remain focused, resilient and committed to halting the wave of attacks from an alert, creative and energetic Glentoran front six keen to play bright and attractive football.
Half-time - Glentoran Women 4-0 Linfield Ladies
With only one minute on the clock at the start of the second half, Casey Howe cut in from the left to fire an unstoppable shot past Currie to extend the lead to five. The sixth also came courtesy of Howe whose sheer determination to force a high press in the box was pivotal, the ball breaking kindly for her to coolly slot home. Linfield tried to keep pace with the home side as they endeavoured to mount a few attacks themselves, but with a mean Glentoran defence keen to not concede, there was simply no way through. Goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns, in her last game before returning to America to continue her studies, looked in full control when called upon and her distribution, as usual, was of a very high standard. Howe completed her second half hat-trick in the sixty-third minute with the magnificent seventh side-footing home in the six-yard area after a strong run and cross from Foy. An own goal five minutes later following another teasing Foy cross into the box made it eight for the evening. Beattie and Howe made way for substitutes Rogan and McMaster on 75 minutes. When Andrews played in McCarron six minutes from time the latter’s strike thundered against the bar, the home side continuing to press right to the end and the visitors simply longing for the final whistle. Rachel Rogan netted the ninth and final goal in injury time from yet another Foy assist from the left.
Final score - Glentoran Women 9-0 Linfield Ladies
Glentoran Women: Glentoran Women: 1. Jacqueline Burns 2. Annie Timoney 3. Jessica Foy (captain) 6. Nadene Caldwell 17. Joely Andrews 19. Kerry Beattie 21. Kelly Bailie 24. Lauren Wade 27. Shannon Dunne 28. Casey Howe 97. Chloe McCarron subs 1. Ashleigh McKinnon 7. Makayla Mulholland 9. Rachel Rogan 10. Alison McMaster 22. Cara Mervyn
Photography by Johnny Caldwell
Match Report by Mark Andrews
