Five-star flourish

Cliftonville Ladies maintained their pursuit of the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership title with a 5-1 victory over Portadown Ladies at Solitude last night.

A Marissa Callaghan double put the Reds in control before Amber Dempster – fresh from scoring a hat-trick against Chimney Corner just 48 hours earlier- made it 3-0 come half-time.

After the turnaround, the Ports reduced the arrears courtesy of a Henderson free-kick only for Leah McEvoy to restore the hosts’ three-goal lead ahead of Dempster completing the scoring with her second of the night.

Cliftonville – who remain third in the table, three points behind leaders Linfield – return to action in Sunday’s Co Antrim Women’s Cup Semi Final clash with Carnmoney Ladies at Solitude (2pm).