It is first against third in tomorrow evening’s Sports Direct Women’s Premiership tie between leaders Glentoran and surprise-package Lisburn Rangers. When the sides meet at Crewe Park with at least one of the teams certain to lose their 100% start to the season.
The Glens sit atop the pile with four wins from four, and are level on points with Cliftonville and the Gers, only ahead on goal difference. They have been thoroughly ruthless this season, including a 20-0 annihilation over Mid-Ulster Ladies and have potent goalscorers all over the park, with the likes of Kerry Beattie, Demi Vance and Joely Andrews, all featuring on the top-scorers list already.
Beattie’s hat-trick last week in the 7-1 win over Derry City was further evidence of her class and she will be hoping to add to her nine-goal tally once more tomorrow.
Rangers have upset all the odds and have flown in the face of predictions. Rather than battle for survival in the league they are in the mix with the so-called “big sides.”
Last week’s 1-0 win away to Lisburn rivals the “Ladies” made a statement to the city, and the wider league that this side is here to stay. Goalscorer, Faye Loughran, grabbed the only goal in last week’s tie to bring her tally for the season to three and now she will get the chance to test her skills against the defending champions.
A Glens win will still be expected but if Rangers can get on the scoresheet and limit the opportunities for Kim Turner’s women, who knows what could happen.
Elsewhere, second-placed Cliftonville Ladies will hope to make it five wins from five when they also make the journey to Lisburn to play the city’s Ladies side.
The north Belfast side will be feeling recharged after having a free weekend last week and will hope to inflict some more pain against an under-performing Lisburn side. Having only chalked up one win so far, and suffering defeat in last week’s derby, captain Christine Clews and her side will be desperate to get another three points but may find the task a tough one.
Kirsty McGuiness has taken the baton from sister Caitlin this season with five goals so far and alongside the likes of Danielle Maxwell and Marissa Callaghan, the 2022 champions strike fear into even the bravest of opponents. Anything but a Reds win would be a huge shock.
In tomorrow’s final game, struggling Larne make the trip to fifth-placed Derry City where the Brandywell plays host. Both teams will be feeling different emotions heading into this one. Whereas the home side were demolished in that Glens’ defeat, Larne got their first win of the season, a thumping 7-0 win over bottom-side Mid-Ulster. This should be a tight affair and much will depend on Larne’s approach and if they have the confidence to push on from last week’s win and get an away victory that would show the club’s owners that they are serious about pushing up the table.