With the Carnegie Premiership hitters not in action last week the spotlight was on the Coca Cola Championship.
League leaders YMCA made the long trip to the Valley Stadium in Fivemiletown to play Fermanagh Mallards and were determined to collect all three points.
The players didn’t disappoint manager Greg McKeever and a 2-1 win over the Mallards keeps them in pole position for another week.
Mairead McCann and Kendra McMullan were both on target for YMCA with Felicity Long replying for the Mallards.
Second place Donegal Celtic were also in action and were held to 1-1 draw by a battling Larne side.
A lack lustre encounter produced the worst possible result for both teams with a share of the spoils allowing YMCA to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Gill Small of Larne and Celtics Lana Black traded goals.
Cliftonville kept their slender title hopes alive with a 4-2 win over Fermanagh Mallard to Mallusk.
Reds boss Emma Kelly was pleased with strikes from Louise Irvine, Marissa Callaghan, Louise Lewsley and Charlene Smith.
Felicity Long and Louise Noble found the net for the Mallards but it was not enough to stop them slipping to their second defeat of the season.
Having drawn with table topping YMCA last week Mark Rimmington’s Dromore Amateurs were in good spirits.
They continued where they had left off against YMCA by putting a severe dent in Cliftonvilles title aspirations after a 0-0 draw.
In Coca Cola Division 1 St Matthews continue their title charge with a 3-1 win over Armagh City.
St Matts Karen Barry opening her account for the season with a brace and Rachael Rogan added the third in a comfortable win.
Danielle Creany netted Armaghs consolation goal.
Armagh’s week went from bad to worse when in their second game of the week Blackieville Ladies overcame the home side in a real nerve jangler at Holm Park.
The Belfast girls enjoyed their trip home after a 4-3 win handed them all three points.
Lauren Cochrane’s double strike for Armagh along with Caroline Andrews’ well taken goal were cancelled out by strikes from Niamh Martin (2) and further goals from Christina McGarry and Danielle McKinney
Downpatrick have not yet given up hope of promotion and a 6-0 thrashing of Blackieville still gives them an outside chance of overcoming St Matts.
Hot shot Kyla Trainor found the net four times and was well supported by Sarah Jess who scored twice.
Glenavon are all but relegated after losing 2-1 at home to an understrength Tollymore team.
Tollymore continue to move towards mid table after their second win on the bounce.
Goals came from Laura Byrne and Maggie Rodgers leave the Lurgan blues in desperate trouble at the foot of the table with the only bright spot being a goal from Mairead Connolly.
With just three games to play in Coca Cola Division 2 struggling Cappagh Spurs pulled of something of a surprise when they held league leaders Limavady to a 0-0 draw.
This sets things up very nicely for Limavady’s top of the table clash with Derry City with the winner takes all!
Dungoyne welcomed Derry City to Belfast and the North West side produced a superb display to win 5-2.
Banbridge travelled to Ballymoney and were rewarded with a fine 5-3 win.
Alex Hurst and Laren Redpath both netted two for the winners with Emma Napier netting the other.
Nicola Clyde did her best to savage something for the Co Antrim side and despite netting a brilliant hat trick she still ended up on the losing team.
There was no change at the top of Coca Cola Division 3.
Bangor FC continue to lead the pack and crushed Rossglass County 7-0.
Goals came from Natasha Lee, Petra Armstrong and Rachael Bates and doubles from Deidre Savage and Lauren McAteer left the County girls somewhat shell shocked.
1st Bangor continued their rich vein of form when they travelled to Ballynahinch.
Shona Hewlett and Hannah Sheffield were both in irresistible form and netted two a piece in a 4-0 win.
Bottom of the pile Abbey Villa were minutes away from their 2nd win of the season but had to contend with a 3-3 draw. Ballyvange battled throughout and despite strikes from Laura McGimpsey, Sarah Stannage and an own goal the Villa could not got a deserved winner.
Wellington Rec consolidated their third place in the table with a 3-0 win over Killyleagh.
Teah Maguire, Kirsten McCully and Jamie Leigh Wilkin were all on target for the Rec.
Coca Cola Division 4 saw the highest scoring game of the season in with 17-nil drubbing of Dromara by Kilkeel.
A seriously under strength Dromara were comprehensively out played in all departments.
Nicole Graham grabbed a staggering 9 goals propelling her to the top of the divisions leading scorers table.
There were further goals from Rachel Nichols, Natalie Graham, Lyn Johnston, Anne Cunningham, Gemma Hanna and Elaine Orr with a hat trick.
Second placed Portadown Integrated enjoyed an away day at Moneyslane winning 5-1 win to keep the pressure on Kilkeel.
Rachael Hall picked up a hat trick for the Ports with further strikes from Aisling McKenna and Jenna McDowel.
Kate Rowan netted a consolation goal for the Slane.
Rathcoole Crusaders hosted Lisburn Distillery in a mid table clash and enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 win
PSNIs Leigh Chapman was in fine form and netted a hat trick in a 4-2 win over Crumlin United.
Kerry McCann hit PSNIs other goal.
In the Coca Cola reserve league the big two in women’s football faced off this week with Glentoran Belfast United beating Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers 4-1 to win the division.
Jessica Doran, Ashleigh Murray, Demi Vance and Makyla Mulholland were all on target for the title winners with Lynn Baird replying for Strikers.
Report by: Gareth Irvine
