Sports Direct Women’s Premiership
Glentoran 1-2 Cliftonville
Cliftonville inflicted the first defeat of the season on holders Glentoran, as the north Belfast side won 2-1 at the Blanchflower Stadium this evening.
Goals from Caitlin McGuiness and Marissa Callaghan gave the Reds the win after they went behind early to a Chloe McCarron strike.
Cliftonville have now won six out of six and are only behind the Glens on goal difference, having played a game less.
McCarron smashed home the opener after 11 minutes, curling an effort from 25 yards over Rachel Norney and in off the underside of the crossbar.
Minutes later it could have been two, but Norney was on hand in to deny Kerry Beattie in a one-on-one situation to keep the Reds in the hunt.
Cliftonville had their first chance on 17 minutes when the impressive Marissa Callaghan got a shot away just outside the Glens’ box but it went sailing high over the bar.
The remainder of the opening period was defined by pressure from the hosts, with the visitors happy to counter-attack.
Glentoran found some joy down the flanks with Demi Vance showing up alongside the tenacious Joely Andrews in midfield breaking up the play but it remained just the odd goal between the sides at the break. However, the opening minutes of the second half turned the game on its head.
First, on 48 minutes, Caitlin McGuiness got on the end of a quick throw-in to fire home from the edge of the area. And then just two minutes later, Callaghan rose highest at the back post to head in a second to leave the Glens’ heads in a spin.
Not long after, captain Jess Foy went close for the east Belfast side with a drive from 25-yards but Norney was equal to it in goal.
Caitlin McGuiness could have secured the win on 75 minutes when she chased after a ball over the top but she was just beaten to the ball by Glens’ keeper Ashleigh McKinnon.
Neither side could add to their tally in the final minutes and the Reds grabbed the early bragging rights in the season’s top-two battle.