Womens Premiership

SIX STAR DELIGHT FOR RANGERS AND BLUES

16 Aug 2024
football
© Paul Harvey

Lisburn Rangers and Linfield Women hit their opponents for six, while Mid Ulster Ladies picked up their first point of the campaign on another big night of Sports Direct Women’s Premiership action.

Rangers are now one of three sides tied on 24 points at the top – along with Glentoran Women and Cliftonville Ladies - as they bagged half a dozen goals at home to Larne Women.

Caoimhe Gelston Mulholland opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute when she stepped up to convert from the spot, with Sophie Kelly-Bradley doubling a few minutes later after getting on the end of a quick ball to beat keeper Cerys Sharkey.

Gracie Conway hit number three midway through the first half, but Larne reduced the deficit soon after courtesy of Aimee Nellins’ finish from a corner.

But Rangers turned the screw after the break, with skipper Helen Parker restoring their three-goal advantage early on ahead of a second for Conway before substitute Maeve McConaghy wrapped the scoring up just after the hour.

Linfield also knocked home six, including a Cora Chambers hat-trick, as they swept past Lisburn Ladies at Midgely Park.

Keri Halliday edged the Blues in front at the break with a 36th minute penalty, before Jessica Hall turned the ball into her own net to extend Linfield’s advantage around the hour mark.

Eve Reilly added a third moments after that, but the night was ultimately to belong to Chambers as she bagged a hat-trick in the closing quarter-of-an-hour or so to cement Linfield’s victory.

Meanwhile, at Stangmore Park, Mid Ulster Ladies collected their first point of the campaign after battling to a scoreless draw with Crusaders Strikers.