McGIVERN KNOCKS HOME DERBY WINNER
Crusaders continued their strong run of form - having defeated Glentoran last week - with a North Belfast derby victory at home to Cliftonville.
The Reds won the bragging rights in both games earlier this season but the Crues were the winners this time round with Sasha Clare and Amy McGivern on the scoresheet, with Toni-Leigh Finneghan netting for the visitors.
Crusaders started brightly, producing some lovely passages of play and they were rewarded on 20 minutes when Clare won the ball on the edge of the box, played a neat one-two with Amanda Morton and struck the ball first time into the top left hand corner of the goal beyond Reds goalkeeper Caoimhe Callaghan.
On 30 minutes, Cliftonville won a free-kick on the edge of the box and up stepped Finnegan to coolly slot the ball beyond Harvey-Clifford in the Crusaders goal. Cliftonville should have taken the lead on 39 Minutes after a great run by Captain Marissa Callaghan down the left wing, she squared the ball to Leah McEvoy who blazed over with the goal at her mercy.
Crusaders had chance after chance but finally made the breakthrough in the 81st Minute when McGivern rose highest to meet a corner from Chloe Archibald and forced the ball over the line. Crusaders captain Julie Nelson should have put the game to bed on 88 minutes when the ball fell to her in the box but she shot straight at the keeper.
Crusaders Strikers: Harvey-Clifford, Archibald, Hamilton, McGivern, Mearns, McCann, Nelson, Clare, Morton, Chalmers, Rea subs Wright (not used), McDowell (replaced Mearns 76), Johnston (replaced Morton 65), Otter (replaced McCann 82), McLaren (not used)
Cliftonville Ladies: C. Callaghan, Moran, Finnegan, McEvoy, Morgan, Orr, da Silva, McConnell, M. Callaghan, Connolly, McVarnock subs Mailey (not used), Wilton (not used), Canavan (replaced Connolly 60), Devine (replaced da Silva 29), Matthews (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
