GLENS LEAPFROG BLUES BACK TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE
Glentoran Women leapfrogged fierce Belfast rivals Linfield to the top of the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership with a 1-0 victory at Midgley Park.
Alison McMaster’s first half strike was the difference between the two sides in South Belfast - she volleyed home Victoria Carleton’s delivery.
It is the first league defeat of the season for current champions Linfield and they have now slipped behind the Glens at the top due to the East Belfast side’s 10-goal superior goal difference.
The 43rd minute McMaster strike from six yards was all that separated the teams in a tight match were both teams defence cancelled each other out for much of the game.
In a first half littered with half chances for both teams it was McMaster who provided the only spark nipping in ahead of Magee to volley home from close range on the stroke of half-time.
In a keenly contested battle, Kirsty McGuinness went close with a free kick for the hosts, while Glentoran’s Demi Vance was denied by two superb blocks and Rachel Rogan was thwarted by Lauren Perry in the home goal. Rogan was all energy tonight and a constant thorn in the Linfield defence creating space for Vance and Nadene Caldwell to run into.
With five minutes left on the clock Caitlin McGuinness gathered the ball on the edge of the box and beat two defenders only for a superb tackle by Jackie Simpson to end the run just as she was about to shoot for the Blues.
Linfield: Perry, n/a, K. McGuinness, Burrows, Timoney, McKenna, Magee, Howe, Donnan, C. McGuinness, McCarron subs McCleary (not used), O'Donnell (replaced C. McGuinness 79), Bassett (replaced Donnan 79), McDaniel (replaced Howe 59), Cameron (not used)
Glentoran Women: Higgins, White, Foy, Caldwell, Vance, Rogan, McMaster, Carleton, Andrews, Davis, Simpson subs McKinnon (not used), Peachey (not used), Kelly (not used), Beattie (replaced Carleton 81), Bailie (replaced McMaster 66)
Substitution 
Substitution 
