After a slow start, this evening the Glens clicked into gear in the second half at Stangmore Park to secure another comprehensive victory in their quest to retain the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership title.
A welcome site from the start was the appearance of Annie Timoney in defence for the first time this season after recovering from injury. Kim Turner also took the opportunity to give recent signings Ellie Butler and Kelly Crompton their first start while Rachel McIntyre was also added to the starting line up with Demi Vance, Emily Wilson and Jenna McKearney on a very strong bench.
Nadene Caldwell gave the Glens an early lead when in the fourth minute she latched on a loose bouncing ball in the Mid Ulster box to head home the opener but any expectation of floodgates opening was in vain as that’s how the scores remained until the break.
Concerns about a potential upset in this tightly charged title race were set aside 2 minutes after the break when half time sub Demi Vance made an immediate impact by playing a ball in for Rachel Rogan to finish her 14th goal of the season so far.
The game was made safe 5 minutes later when another sub, Jenna McKearney for the second game in a row hit home from outside the opposition box. Then it was Vance’s turn to get on the scoresheet as she diverted McKearney’s shot past Lilie Woods in the Mid Ulster goal for her own 14th goal from midfield in a very free scoring season.
In the last 10 minutes 2 of our summer signings finished the season. First Sophie Keenan scored with a peach of a strike then in injury time Aimee Kerr danced her way past three home defenders to get her shot away.
This leaves us 3 points ahead of Cliftonville at the top of the table but the Reds have 2 games in hand so there is no wriggle room in the title race. The Reds are our next opponents when we meet at the Blanchflower on Saturday evening in the final of the Toal’s Women’s Cup (KO 7.45pm). The girls need every support possible and with the men not playing on Saturday a big Glentoran crowd should be there for them.
Glentoran Women: Ashleigh McKinnon, Sarah Tweedie, Jess Foy (c), Annie Timoney, Sofie Keenan, Aimee Kerr, Kelly Crompton, Nadene Caldwell, Rachel McIntyre, Ellie Butler and Rachel Rogan
Subs: Kelly Bailie (for Timoney 46), Megan Neill, (for Caldwell 66), Demi Vance, (for Butler 46), Emily Wilson (for Rogan 66), Jenna McKearney (for Tweedie 46).
