Reds burn bright

Lisburn Rangers 0-2 Cliftonville Ladies

Cliftonville Ladies maintained their title challenge with a hard-fought victory over Lisburn Rangers this evening.

Goals in each half from Teegan Lynch and Carla Devine settled the issue at Crewe Park, where victory kept the Reds within touching distance of both Glentoran Women and Linfield Women at the top of the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership table.

After Fi Morgan had struck the crossbar from distance, the deadlock was broken when Abbie Magee’s free-kick delivery caused chaos for the home defence and Lynch was on cue to touch the ball over the line.

Naomi McLaughlin then shot off target before the second period began with captain Kelsie Burrows drawing a straightforward save from the Rangers keeper.

Good work from Magee teed Caitlin McGuinness up for a strike she was unable to keep below the crossbar and, after McLaughlin called the keeper into action, Cliftonville’s advantage was finally doubled when Devine nodded Marissa Callaghan’s cross home.

Callaghan went close to making it 3-0 late on but two goals proved enough for the win that keeps the Champions eight points behind leaders Glentoran but with two games in hand on both the Glens and second-placed Linfield as well as having played a game fewer than Lisburn Rangers, who are now four points behind the Reds in the standings.