White-hot fourm
Linfield Ladies 1-4 Cliftonville Ladies
Yasmin White scored her first goal of the season as Cliftonville Ladies maintained their 100% start with a stylish victory over Linfield Ladies at Midgley Park this evening.
Goals from the McGuinness sisters, Caitlin and Kirsty, had the Reds in control at half-time and, while the hosts pulled one back from the penalty spot, Louise McDaniel and White added their names to the scoresheet to make it six wins from six Danske Bank Women’s Premiership outings this term.
Cliftonville made a bright start and were rewarded with the opening goal inside nine minutes when Kirsty McGuinness’ cross was converted by her younger sibling at the near post.
A dangerous Niamh Connolly delivery and an effort from Kirsty McGuinness gave indication that the Reds were hungry to build on their early lead and they did just that on 21 minutes when Kirsty McGuinness dispossessed Kelsie Burrows before finding the net.
Toni-Leigh Finnegan drew a save from goalkeeper Nicole Adams, who also kept Kirsty McGuinness at bay and dealt with a dangerous Marissa Callaghan cross before the first-half was out.
Despite starting the second period well, the Reds saw their advantage halved just before the hour when Megan Weatherall’s foul on Sienna Leckey earned Linfield a penalty which Alison Smyth stepped up to convert.
Within a minute, however, Cliftonville had restored their two-goal lead when McDaniel became the third former Blues player to find the net when she got on the end of a fierce delivery from Finnegan.
A last-ditch block from Weatherall prevented Cora Morgan from adding to Linfield’s tally and she would also play a telling role in the visitors wrapping up the points when she provided the ball from which White slid in to make it 4-1.
Cliftonville: Norney, White (Davis, 88 mins), Finnegan, Morgan, Weatherall, Henry, McDaniel, Callaghan, K McGuinness, C McGuinness (McConnell, 46 mins), Connolly (Montgomery, 84 mins). Unused subs: Welsh, Canavan.