Crusaders Strikers’ young starlet Rachel McLaren became the latest Danske Bank Women’s Premiership international debutant after she featured in Northern Ireland’s win over North Macedonia.

It was a memorable afternoon for Kenny Shiels’ in-form international panel as they cruised to a record 11-0 win over their opponents in an important Women’s World Cup Qualifier at the FFM Training Centre in Skopje.

With five of the starting eleven representing the NI Football League eleven; Jackie Burns (Glentoran), Julie Nelson (Crusaders), Lauren Wade (Glentoran), Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville), Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville).

Debutant McLaren was joined off the bench in the second period by Glentoran trio Chloe McCarron, Nadene Caldwell and Caragh Hamilton as well as Cliftonville Ladies’ Kelsie Burrows.

Rachel Furness and Simone Magill scored four and three respectively in the rout, but there were also goals for Wade and McGuinness as well as Rebecca McKenna, who was previously with Linfield Ladies before moving to England, and Rebecca Holloway.

The impressive win keeps Northern Ireland in third place in Group D, with their final game of the calendar year coming on Monday as today’s opponents North Macedonia travel to Belfast.