Off course promotion and relegation will depend on whether some clubs pull out of the organisation and how many new teams enter. As this has been happening annually, League officials again will probably have to restructure the set-up. But, taken on playing merit the outcome is taking shape.
YMCA and Cliftonville are bound for the Premier. Derry City will jump into the Championship, Valley Rangers and Portadown Integrated will leap into Division One. Sion Swifts and Lisburn should book passages to Division Two, thwarting Crumlin United whilst runaway Newry City are already in Division Three such is their lead.
On the minus side the Premier has been too stiff for promoted Loughgall Lakers; Downpatrick can only hope that they will leapfrog St. Matthew’s, Portaferry (Maybe a welcome release for them) will slip into Division Two and Moyola Park will drop into Division Three. Abbey Villa are doomed for Division Four.
The first half programme ended disappointedly for Donegal Celtic. It was their chance to raise their profile in the Championship. Whilst leaders YMCA and chasing Cliftonville were cancelling each other in a 2-2 deadlock, it was the perfect moment for the Hoops to advance their cause. Instead they were denied by division props Downpatrick who held them to a frustrating 4-4 draw. It may turn out to be their watershed. Rachel Laverty’s hat-trick and Louise Doherty’s strike failed to suppress an undaunted Down side, which traded blows via the goals of Kyla Trainor, Siobhan Polly, Donna-Marie Carson and Tracey McGarry to pick up only their second point of the season, but could serve as a huge morale-booster for them.
Tenacious YMCA remain perched on the summit, thanks to an indomitable display against close rivals Cliftonville in a top-of-the-table tester. It could have so much better though for the Derry ladies who allowed a 2-0 lead to drain away over the closing stages. Aine McKeever’s spot-kick and Sarah Bergin’s rocket seemed set to put distance between the sides, but resolute Cliftonville, striving to make a quick return to the top flight, hit back with late goals from Kiera Moss and Louise Irvine.
Footnote: Lady referees can sometimes be figures of scorn Why? (Andy Gray and Richard Keys!). Well done to youthful whistler Sarah O’Reilly who was lauded by all for her handling of the game.
Coleraine serve up a mixture of good and bad; their 7-2 mauling of St. Matthew’s one of their best. Lauren Wade tormented the home defence, scoring five goals with Alison Nicholl and Annabel Steen chipping in.
PREMIER
IT was a tough assignment for Linfield, the second in back-to-back meetings with Crusaders Strikers. It was always going to be very difficult for them to gain something from two very tough games. They didn’t. Six points dropped and another reminder that, although a worthy Premier team, they don’t possess the armoury to pierce such opponents.
Beaten 3-1 the first time around, the Blues were defeated by just the single goal, 3-2 at miserable Mallusk. It was a stirring attempt by Linfield who made the champs sweat to the final whistle. Kirsty McGuinness’s lightning strike rocked the Crues for a time, but it didn’t take long for them to recover and go on to take a 3-1 lead. Natalie Boyd is beginning to hit the target and it was her double that broke the Blues, Danielle McDowell’s goal confirming their superiority. Danielle Ennis’s late hit made it all to play for but Crusaders survived an awkward task.
Glentoran’s route to victory was much smoother and was another indication of their power this year. Leading scorers Catherine O’Hagan floored Ballymena All-Stars with four goals, Emma Elliott and Colleen Hinton and an o.g. wrapping up a 7-0 victory.
Newbridge Predators have closed up on Linfield thanks to a 2-0 win at Mid Ulster, their winning goals coming from Michelle Crawford and Julieanne McCann.
DIVISION ONE
IT was a strange, old game at the Prehen Playing Fields where Derry City and Blackieville battled out a 14 goals thriller! Defences just didn’t exist! The concession of six goals must have been alarming for the title hopefuls, but probably justified by the fact that they scored eight!
Blackieville’s Christine McGarry was the game’s top scorer on four goals. Seaneen Kane and Meabh Cullen were also on target for the West Belfast team, but Derry maintained their all-conquering run with a feast of goals. Kerry Ferguson topped their list with a hat-trick with the rest of the goals coming from Caoimhe Logue (2), Bronagh McKinley, Niamh Connolly and Aveen Laverty
There was a 13-goal avalanche between Armagh and Tollymore Athletic, the home team cruising through 9-4. Amy Nicholson (3) and Aimee O’Higgins penciled in the Athletic goals, but these were overshadowed by the strikes of Claire Taylor (3), Megan Bothwell (2), Caroline O’Hare, Shirley Beattie, Charlene Troughton and Joanne Glover.
In the struggle for the remaining promotion place Banbridge and Larne fought out a 3-3 draw. Larne’s top scorer Gill Small was among their goals, with Lauren McGuckin and Laura Noble scoring the other two. Lauren Redpath, Roya Loughlin and Alex Hurst ensured Banbridge’s share of the points.
At the other end of the table Portaferry, with goals from Fiona Smyth and Amy McCarthy shared a 2-2 draw with Knockbreda whose goals came from Chelsea Craig.
DIVISION TWO
THE derby between 1st Bangor and Bangor Ladies went the Ards’ team’s way, an overwhelming 6-2 win that saw them leapfrog their rivals. Hannah Sheffield led the home charge with two goals, the rest coming from Sarah Gamble, Hollie Campbell, Jane Patton and Jordan Baillie. Christine Duncan and Leanne McGarry netted Bangor’s consolation goals.
Nikki Parke’s brace helped Ballymoney to a 2-2 draw with Cappagh Spurs, Kylie McGavigan and Dearbhla McCallan firing in the home goals. Meanwhile joint leading scorer Jenna McDonnell reached the eleven goals mark as Portadown Integrated defeated Wellington Rec 3-1. Laura Hutchinson was the Ports other ace.
DIVISION THREE
NO change at the top as joint pacemakers Lisburn and Sion Swifts picked up maximum points. Lisburn crushed Killyleagh 8-1 thanks to goals from Stacy Murdough (3), Christine Clews (2), Fiona Carlisle and Nadine Stewart. Swifts were gifted their points as Abbey Villa failed to put in an appearance. Crumlin United were fine 4-2 winners over PSNI, Anna McBride, Emma O’Neill, Cathy Scannell and Bronagh Doherty their scorers.
DIVISION FOUR
IT was humiliating, miss-match, totally unfortunate as Newry City slammed Banbridge Rangers 17-0. Moya Feehan (5), Eireann McLoughlin (4), Aoife Lennon (3), Nicola Clements and Amy McCallister burying the inexperienced newcomers under an avalanche of goals. Another player on form was Moneyslane’s Ashleigh Dinsmore who picked up a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Craigavon. Joanna Black, Julie Robins and Kirsty Treanor were the visiting scorers. It was also a good evening for Ballyvange who are now in with a very good chance of grabbing promotion following a 4-0 defeat of Dromara. Mary McGrady (2), Lauren Boyd and Ashlene Kearney were their aces.
Report -: Sammy Martin
