A 2-goal burst around the half hour mark proved to be the turning point against a defensively very well organised Lisburn side at the Bluebell Stadium this evening.
The Glens dominated possession from the off, with Demi Vance and Emily Wilson having a lot of success interchanging wings, but the home side were up to the task of resisting attacks with a well packed box. But the Glens breakthrough came on 32 minutes when Kerry Beattie – who else? – broke the deadlock with a shot that took a slight deflection before sailing high past Jessica Poots in the Lisburn goal.
2 minutes later it was 2 nil. Skipper and birthday girl Jess Foy – who opened the scoring in this fixture last season with a long-range wonder strike – almost casually hit another great one from distance, A goal that would grace any standard of football!
4 minutes into the second half the game was over as a contest. This time it was midfielder Nadene Caldwell with a stylish lob of the keeper from a great pass by Chloe McCarron. It certainly took these 3 long range efforts to beat the resilient Lisburn defence as goalmouth opportunities were thin on the ground all evening.
Lisburn scored a consolation goal with 21 minutes too go when an inexplicable defensive mix up presented Danielle Winter with an open goal.
So after 3 games the Glens sit 3 points behind Cliftonville Strikers but with a game in hand. The game in hand will be played next Friday (14th June) when 4th placed Derry City visit the Blanchflower. Before that we travel to Seaview on Monday night to face Crusaders Strikers in the League Cup.
Glentoran Women: Ashleigh McKinnon, Jenna McKearney, Aimee Neal, Emma McMaster, Jess Foy (c), Nadene Caldwell, Demi Vance, Chloe McCarron, Joely Andrews, Kerry Beattie, Emily Wilson
Subs: Sofie Keenan (for McKearney 63), Kelly Bailie (for Neal 63), Kascie Weir (for Caldwell 77), Megan Neill, Aimee Kerr (for Andrews 46), Rachel Rogan (for Beattie 63), Rachel McIntyre