Womens Premiership

AN HISTORIC WEEK IN THE WOMEN'S PREMIERSHIP

02 Jun 2023
football
© Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press

The clash of the titans at the top of the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership produced no winners as leaders Glentoran Women and defending champions Cliftonville Ladies shared the goals at Solitude.

Played in front of a record breaking 868-strong crowd and broadcast live on YouTube, early goals from Marissa Callaghan and Danielle Maxwell put the Reds very much in control but second half strikes from Caragh Hamilton and Demi Vance saw the Glens bounce back to claim a share of the spoils.

It was also a big night at Midgley Park as third hosted fourth, but Linfield Women and Sion Swifts Ladies could only cancel each other out. Lauren Haynes edged Sion in front on 38 minutes, before Keri Halliday levelled for the Blues on the stroke of half-time.

At Seaview Lisburn Ladies edged to a narrow one-goal defeat of Crusaders Strikers with the winner coming via substitute Aisling Cull with a finish past the advancing Maddy Harvey-Clifford with 12 minutes remaining.

Elsewhere Mid Ulster Ladies and Ballymena United Women ground out a scoreless draw at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena.

The week got off to a memorable start for Larne Women on Wednesday night as they defeated Derry City Women by the odd goal in five at the Brandywell.

Katherine Haveron opened the scoring for Larne on 28 minutes only for Ellie Redden to level almost immediately.

Leah Wilgaus restored Larne’s advantage moments from the break but Redden struck again for the Candystripes early in the second half.

That was how it stayed until deep into stoppage time when Hollie Johnston bagged Larne’s third and with it a first ever top flight victory for the newly promoted side.