BIG WIN FOR THE CANDYSTRIPES
Derry City Women picked up their first win of the season with an important bottom of the table defeat of Ballymena United Women at The Showgrounds.
The visitors were quickest out of the blocks, putting Ballymena United under early pressure, and they found the break through on 12 minutes. A corner from Kayleigh Carlin perfectly picked out Laura Connolly in the box to send a bullet header past keeper Lucy Winton.
The Sky Blues came more into the game with Ellen McClure going close before a long throw from Kerry Eddis wasn't cleared, falling eventually to Zoe McDowell who pulled the ball back for Shelley Stothers to strike the ball high and hard into the net.
Derry regained the advantage before the break after Ellie Redden was afforded too much time and space on the edge of the box and her excellent shot flew into the net.
The Candystripes extended their lead nine minutes after the interval courtesy of a superbly executed Claragh Quigg set piece.
Derry sealed the points with around a quarter-of-an-hour remaining when Bria McGilloway broke down the right, picking out substitute Hannah Hopkins in the box who duly took the ball past a defender and beyond Winton.
The Sky Blues did, however, grab a stoppage time consolation when Chelsea Millar scrambled home a Hannah Firth corner.
Ballymena United Women: Winton, Millar, Bamford, Kirgan, McDowell, Stothers, Henry, McClure, Eddis, Burns, Firth subs Manson, Wallace, McDowell, McKendry, Winter, Hill
Derry City Women: Barr, Temple, Toland, Connolly, Coyle, Donaghey, Redden, Quigg, McGilloway, Carlin, Dunne subs Hannigan, Orla Doherty, Olivia Doherty, Hargan, Hopkins, C. Doherty
Substitution 
Substitution 
