CRUES IMPRESS AT SEAVIEW
Crusaders picked up their first points of the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership with an impressive 2-1 win at home to title hopefuls Sion Swifts.
Amy McGivern gave the hosts - who had lost 2-0 at Linfield on the opening day after a battling performance - an early lead in the third minute to set the tone for the encounter.
Emily Wilson doubled the lead for Spike Hill’s side just before the hour mark with a delightful chipped finish and despite Northern Ireland international Caitlin McGuinness netting brilliantly into the top corner for Sion in injury time, the Crues held off a late fightback.
Caitlin and her sister Kirsty were the big threats for Sion throughout - with the score at 1-0, Crues goalkeeper Maddy Harvey-Clifford produced a great save from Caitlin while with twenty minutes remaining, a shot from Kirsty was cleared off the line by Julie Nelson.
Yet the Crues hung on for a deserved victory and a significant three points.
Crusaders Strikers: Harvey-Clifford, Achibald, Hamilton, McGivern, McDowell, Nelson, Redmond, Armour, Johnston, Wilson, Rea subs Wright (replaced Archibald 90), Mearns (not used), McNeill (not used), Beggs (replaced Johnston 76), Cameron (replaced Redmond 71)
Sion Swifts Ladies: Callaghan, Lynch, Walsh, Brown, McCarter, McLaughlin, Crompton, C. McGuinness, K. McGuinness, Peters, Burns subs McVarnock (replaced Peters 62), Feehan (not used), Shannon (not used), Ruddy (not used), Sheerin (replaced Lynch 78)
Substitution 
Substitution 
