REDS CRUISE TO NORTH BELFAST DERBY WIN
Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan guided Cliftonville to an emphatic North Belfast derby win over Crusaders Strikers at Solitude.
The experienced midfielder was acting as player-manager for the Solitude clash after Marty Douglas stepped down earlier this week, with the Reds running out convincing 5-1 victors - as Heather Mearns netted a consolation goal for the Crues.
Callaghan was on the scoresheet alongside the returning Billie Simpson - last season’s Player of the Year winner - while Megan Moran was also on target, with Joana da Silva netting a brace.
All six goals arrived inside a 32-minute spell in the second half with Callaghan’s thunderbolt opener the most eye-catching moment of the night.
The result sees Cliftonville move nine points clear of the Crues in fourth place and takes the Reds to within just five points of Sion Swifts in third, with both now having played ten matches.
Cliftonville Ladies: C. Callaghan, Moran, Da Silva, Orr, McConnell, Devine, M. Callaghan, Connolly, Grieve, Weatherall, McVarnock subs Mailey, Matthews, Simpson, McEvoy, Wilton
Crusaders Strikers: Harvey-Clifford, Archibald, Hamilton, McGivern, McDowell, McCann, Nelson, Clare, Morton, Turner, Chalmers subs Wright, Mearns, Johnston, Moore, McCaughtry
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