Perfect fourm

Cliftonville Ladies 4-2 Glentoran Women

Cliftonville Ladies maintained their winning start to the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership season courtesy of a stunning comeback defeat of Glentoran Women at Solitude tonight.

Boasting three victories from their first three outings, the Reds roared back from 2-0 down to take maximum points again thanks to goals from Louise McDaniel and the McGuinness sisters Caitlin and Kirsty (2) in a superb 4-2 success.

The visitors netted twice in the opening 10 minutes, with Kerry Beattie breaking the deadlock before Casey Howe got on the end of a cross to double the Champions’ advantage.

Jessica Foy and Nadene Caldwell then drew saves from Rachel Norney as the Glens sought to further build on their early dominance.

Kelly Bailie went close to making it 3-0 with a volley that brought another top stop out of the impressive Norney before McDaniel was denied by Ashleigh McKinnon at the other end.

Within a minute, however, the same two players went toe-to-toe again and this time McDaniel got the better of the keeper, converting from a corner to reduce the deficit.

Norney twice kept Howe at bay to ensure Glentoran didn’t restore their two-goal lead before half-time and the importance of her interventions were underlined shortly after the turnaround when Caitlin McGuinness near-post finish produced the equaliser.

The visitors almost went straight back in front only for Norney to make the save from Beattie and, again, Cliftonville would build on that by putting the ball in the net – and this time the keeper would play a central role, providing the long ball from which Kirsty McGuinness slotted home.

Norney gathered a powerful strike from Beattie on the hour before a marauding run from Glens skipper Foy ended with her curling an attempt over the top.

Despite finding themselves under considerable pressure once more, the Reds found an ever-reliable outlet in Kirsty McGuinness, whose unstoppable free-kick made it 4-2 with just over 20 minutes left to play.

Marissa Callaghan saw a shot blocked before both goalkeepers made smart stops in the closing stages; Norney from Kelly before McKinnon kept a Niamh Connolly effort out.

Cliftonville: Norney, Orr, White (Weatherall, 85 mins), Moran, Morgan, McHenry, McDaniel, C McGuinness, K McGuinness, Callaghan, Connolly (McConnell, 80 mins). Unused subs: Welsh, Montgomery, Davis.