CONVINCING CRUES MAKE LAST FOUR
Crusaders Strikers are through to the League Cup semi-finals after a convincing second half performance against a Derry City team playing their home fixture at the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena due to the unavailability of their home ground.
The opening period of the match was well contested by both sides and it took Crusaders ten minutes to get their first strike on goal, when Amy McGivern hit the Derry post with a long range effort. Two minutes later, she would head just wide from a corner.
On 23 minutes, Faith Johnston had her powerful volley tipped over the net by Naomh Barr in the Derry Goal.
The deadlock was broken on 41 mins as Darcie McNeill side stepped three challenges on the edge of the box before firing low under Barr. Barr would once again brilliantly deny Johnston on 43 mins.
The second half started with Crusaders in control. The vocal Lisa Armour led by example on 48 minutes with a great header at the near post to put Crusaders two in front.
The game was over as a contest just past the hour when Rachel McLaren scored with a superb free kick from 35 yards before, on 72 minutes, Amy McGivern added a fourth soon after to seal the victory.
Derry City Women: Barr, Temple, Doherty, Connolly, Coyle, Alexander, Redden, Harkin, Friel, Hargan, Carlin subs Deery, Curran
Crusaders Strikers: Harvey-Clifford, Hamilton, McGivern, McNeill, Johnston, Redmond, Armour, Otter, Chalmers, McLaren, Rea subs Morrison, McCann, McNeill, Beggs, McVarnock, Peachey, Mann
Substitution 
Substitution 
