SMYTH DOUBLES UP FOR BLUES
Last year’s runners-up Linfield Ladies got off to an impressive start in this season’s Danske Bank Women’s Premiership with a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Sion Swifts Ladies as striker Alison Smyth netted a brace.
Smyth’s close-range effort broke the deadlock six minutes before the break and she won and converted a penalty just after the hour mark, with Sion goalkeeper Denise McElhinney unfortunately getting the final touch from a Blues corner five minutes prior.
In the 39th minute, Smyth pounced on a loose ball in the box, turned and fired the Blues in front.
Linfield finished the first half strongly with Rebecca McKenna and Victoria Carleton enjoying plenty of possession but unable to add to the score.
Sion started the second half brightly and home goalkeeper Nicole Adams was forced to make a good save from Michelle McDaid to keep the blues in front.
Shortly after, Naomi Donnan fired wide for Linfield when well placed.
In the 54th minute, a Linfield corner was fired in by Carleton and Sion goalkeeper McElhinney unfortunately turned it into her own goal to extend Linfield’s lead.
Seven minutes later, Smyth was fouled in the box; she picked herself up and confidently struck the resultant penalty past McElhinney.
Linfield Ladies: Adams, Fitzsimmons, McFrederick, Hutton, Carleton, Bassett, Smyth, Burrows, Morgan, McKenna, Donnan subs Johnston (replaced Bassett 87), Dickson (not used), Leckey (replaced Morgan 73), Moore (replaced Moore 72), McMaster (not used)
Sion Swifts Ladies: McElhinney, Neal, Walsh, McCarter, Burns, O'Donnell, Lynch, McDaid, Brown, McGonagle, O'Hagan subs Crompton (replaced McGonagle 55), Chambers (replaced O'Donnell 58), Callaghan (not used), McCool (not used), Feehan (replaced O'Hagan 86)
Substitution 
Substitution 
