The Danske Bank Women’s Premiership continues on Wednesday night with the fifth round of action.
After last season’s shortened campaign due to the pandemic, this season sees a full restoration with each of the sides in the top-flight playing each other four times.
All six sides are in action tonight - with fans back in the grounds - and the most anticipated game arguably is the Belfast derby between Crusaders Strikers and Linfield Ladies at Seaview.
Glentoran Women will be looking to pick up their first victory in three attempts as they travel to a greatly improved Derry City Women side, while Cliftonville Ladies will be aiming to maintain their 100 percent winning start to the campaign with a trip to Sion Swifts Ladies.
Derry City Women v Glentoran Women
Derry City are much-improved this season and have scored in three successive matches - including securing victory over Sion Swifts this month and taking a second-half lead at Linfield last week.
They will look to continue that momentum as they host champions Glentoran, who suffered a 4-2 loss at Cliftonville last week having been held at rivals Linfield in the previous matchday.
The Glens have won all 12 previous meetings between the two sides, but this is set to be the strongest Candystripes side they’ve faced yet.
Sion Swifts Ladies v Cliftonville Ladies
Sion fought back twice to rescue a point against Crusaders last week and will need to be on top form against table-topping Cliftonville this time out.
John McGrady’s side have four wins from four so far and impressively fought back from two goals down to down champions Glentoran last week, in a result which could be a signal of their title ambitions.
Sion have won each of the last six meetings between the clubs but the sides are much-changed this season and this is set to be an interesting marker for each team.
31 goals have flown in across the past eight matches between these two - expect a few more at Melvin on Wednesday night.
Crusaders Strikers v Linfield Ladies
Both these sides have had mixed starts to the campaign but Linfield’s comeback win over Derry City last week showed their mental strength and self-belief, bringing them up to second in the standings.
Crusaders have been edged out by 1-0 defeats to both Glentoran and Cliftonville, while they twice squandered the lead against Sion last time out - although they did record three points at home to Derry earlier this month.
Linfield have won the last eight meetings between the two sides, the last four of which were earned with a clean sheet.
