Cait divide

Linfield Ladies 2-3 Cliftonville Ladies

Caitlin McGuinness struck a late winner as Cliftonville Ladies progressed to the third round of the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup at the expense of Linfield Ladies this evening.

Just four days on from a 5-2 victory over the Blues on Danske Bank Premiership duty, John McGrady’s side returned to New Midgley Park – hosting the game due to Solitude’s unavailability – and, though they fell behind early on, quickfire strikes from Fi Morgan and Abbie McHenry had them in front by the break.

Linfield would, however, draw themselves level from the penalty spot only for McGuinness to settle the issue with just three minutes left on the clock.

It was the home side who made the brighter start and they were rewarded for their efforts when Lucy Johnston broke the deadlock after being teed up by Ebony Leckey.

The crossbar prevented Vicky Carleton from making it 2-0 with a free-kick before Niamh Connolly came close to a bizarre leveller when her inswinging cross crashed against the post.

Cliftonville did level on 26 minutes when Morgan’s free-kick nestled in the corner and barely 60 seconds had elapsed by the time McHenry made it 2-1 with a cool finish.

Five minutes after the turnaround, Norney’s foul on Rebecca Bassett earned Linfield a penalty which Carleton stepped up to convert.

With both teams going in search of a winner, the action was end-to-end at times and the Blues should have edged back in front only for Leckey to head straight at Norney just minutes before the Reds claimed their winner; Player of the Match McGuinness driving into the area and slotting past the goalkeeper.

Elder sister Kirsty McGuinness almost made it 4-2 only to see her free-kick come back off the bar, while the visitors were grateful to Norney for the last-gasp save from Leckey which secured their place in the next round.

Cliftonville: Norney, White, Morgan, Moran, Davis (McAuley, 78 mins), McHenry, McConnell (Callaghan, 57 mins), McDaniel, C McGuinness, Connolly, K McGuinness. Unused subs: Canavan, Reilly, Montgomery.