CRUES EDGE PAST IMPROVING CANDYSTRIPES
A goal in each half saw Crusaders Strikers emerge with the points from the Brandywell against an improving Derry City team.
Both sides gave it their all from the start. Ellie Redden had the first chance for Derry after a defensive lapse but couldn’t quite get her shot away on goal.
The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes when Rachel McLaren found the net after connecting with a corner.
Crusaders pushed on and for the most part, dominated play for the rest of the half, with City keeper Naomh Barr making a last ditch clearance on 42 minutes kept the deficit to one at the interval.
Derry started the second half brightly, with efforts from substitute Abby Alexander and Clarah Quigg testing Crues keeper Maddy Harvey-Clifford.
But the Crues showed their superiority and experience to secure the victory with just over an hour on the clock when, on the counter attack, Nicole Caldwell coolly slipped the ball under Barr.
Derry City Women: Barr, Temple, Toland, Connolly, Dunne, Coyle, Redden, Quigg, Duffy, Carlin, Green subs Brennan, Deery, Hargan, McGilloway, Alexander, Friel
Crusaders Strikers: Harvey-Clifford, Hamilton, Nelson, Beggs, Redmond, Otter, Mann, Chalmers, McNeill, McLaren, Rea subs McGivern, Mearns, McDowell-Tuffey, Johnston, Caldwell, Rodgers
Substitution 
Substitution 
