REDS MAKE IT TWO FROM TWO
Cliftonville Ladies secured an impressive 3-2 victory at home to Linfield in an entertaining encounter.
Kirsty McGuinness and Marissa Callaghan gave the Reds a two-goal lead at the break and despite Rebecca Bassett halving the deficit with 21 minutes remaining, a Toni-Leigh Finnegan penalty restored the Reds' two-goal cushion.
Rebecca McKenna netted for the Blues going into injury time to set-up a nervy finish, but John McGrady’s side held on for a vital three points.
McGuinness opened the scoring by powering home Chloe Orr’s delivery in the 25th minute and eight minutes later Callaghan doubled the lead after Louise McDaniel rounded Nicole Adams and put the ball on a plate for the captain.
Bassett reacted quickest to prod home from close range after Rachel Norney had saved the initial effort to halve the deficit, but the Reds went 3-1 up when Finnegan scored a penalty following a handball.
It was a tense and frantic finale for both sides with Kirsty McGuinness striking the post and then sister Caitlin rattling the crossbar for the Solitude side. McKenna gave the Blues a late lifeline but it was not enough.
Cliftonville Ladies: Norney, Orr, White, Moran, Morgan, Finnegan, McDaniel, C. McGuinness, K. McGuinness, Callaghan, Connolly subs Montgomery (not used), McHenry (replaced Connolly 72), Davis (not used), Mailey (not used), McAuley (not used)
Linfield Ladies: Adams, Fitzsimmons, McFrederick, Hutton, Carleton, Bassett, Burrows, Morgan, McKenna, Leckey, Donnan subs Moore (not used), Johnston (replaced Leckey 72), Dickson (replaced Morgan 72), McConnell (not used), McMaster (replaced Burrows 68)
Substitution 
Substitution 
