The Glens made the journey to the Bluebell Stadium in Lisburn this evening for the quarter final of the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup. The weather conditions were inhospitable from start to finish.
Kim Turner made 2 changes from last week’s 10-0 win over Larne. Annie Timoney was moved into ventral defence with Sarah Tweedie starting in Annie’s normal position at right back, while Ellie Scott returned in goal. In total there were no fewer than nine Northern Internationals in the Glentoran starting line-up.
The Glens showed their intent in the seventh minute when the in-form Emily Wilson made a great run down the right before cutting in to lash an unstoppable shot past Lisburn keeper Jessica Poots to open the scoring.
Wilson was involved in Glentoran’s second goal just 3 minutes later when her pinpoint pass from right wing was met and converted by Joely Andrews. Joely had another very strong effort well saved by Poots on 24 minutes.
Glentoran continued to dominate possession without threatening the Lisburn goal, until 10 minutes before half time when top scorer Kerry Beattie latched onto the ball just inside the right side of the Lisburn box before a convincing finish for her side’s third. The score remained 0-3 until the break.
Beattie was again on target on 52 minutes with a deft finish from a Nadene Caldwell through ball. This was Northern Ireland’s top scorer’s 23rd goal of the season. Her first of the evening was Glentoran Women's 100th goal of the season so far, scored in just 21 games. A remarkable scoring rate in any level of football.
Chloe McCarron then finished the scoring on a night of spectacular goals with an absolute wonder strike from outside the box.
So the Glens go into the semi-final draw in an attempt to win the trophy for a remarkable fifth consecutive time. Joining them in the draw are Cliftonville Ladies, Sion Swifts Ladies and Lisburn Rangers Ladies.
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 78), Jenna McKearney (for Tweedie 70), Kelly Bailie, Rachel Rogan (for Andrews 60), Maeve McConaghy.
Photography by Johnny Caldwell