So after five weeks of Championship action the remainder of the NIWFA league burst into life this week with all of our divisions getting underway, here’s our weekly review of all the action.

 

Ballymena United Women continue to lead the Championship after this week putting basement side St.Oliver Plunkett to the sword winning 9-0 at Whiterock. Claire Shaw continued her recent fine form in this one netting on four occasions and she was more than ably assisted by Megan Henry, Katie Wallace, Hannah Firth and Nikki McKendry who all scored a goal apiece.

 

St.James Swifts remain United’s closest rivals (three points behind with a game in hand) although they were made to fight all the way by a battling Camlough Rovers before eventually winning 5-2. The Saints Skipper Siobhan Bell led by example in this one netting twice with their other goals coming from Chloe Doak (x2) and a late Rachel Dennison strike. Rovers response came from goals by Olivia Connolly and Ellen McCartney.

 

Following a fourth consecutive victory, Bangor have now moved into third place in the standings after winning 2-0 at Mid Ulster Ladies. Goals in this one came from Toni Stewart and a retaken Amber Dempster penalty with highlights from this game appearing online on our social media shortly.

 

It’s been a superb season so far for promoted Greenisland Women who this week defeated fellow promoted side Ballymoney United 2-0 at Glenkeen Avenue. Saskia Love had give the hosts a perfect start scoring after only 3 minutes and Lucy Redmond secured the points with the second on 55 minutes. Greenisland are now up to fourth place in the table.

 

In the final Championship game this week Sion Swifts romped home 9-2 at Ballyclare Comrades with Hannah Gibson being the star of the show with a well taken hat-trick. Their other goals came from Brooke Milligan (x2), Mia Doherty (x2), Zoe Green and a debut goal from their recent signing from Linfield Zahara Leckey. The Comrades consolations came from Isabel Campbell and Olivia Blain.

 

After securing promotion from Division Two last season it looks like Strabane Athletic and Craigavon City will once again be the teams to look out for as both started their respective season with comfortable wins over Institute and Ambassadors respectively. The Roses of Rosario also got their season off to a flyer defeating recently relegated Comber Rec 6-1 with highlights from this currently available to view on our social media. In the divisions final game Ballynahinch also got off to a winning start defeating Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 2-1 at Dixon Park.

 

The opening week of fixtures in DivisionTwo saw big wins for Belfast Ravens (v Kilmore Rec) and Carrick Rangers Falcons (v 22nd Ladies) whilst recently promoted Lisbellaw also got their season off to a winning start by defeating Armagh City 3-1. The final game in this division this week saw the North West derby between Maiden City and Coleraine end 1-1

 

Just the one solitary home win this week as Division Three got underway with Raceview being the only side to win on their home pitch with Moneyslane and Ballynahinch Olympic both securing away wins. The division’s final game saw Belfast Swifts and Antrim Town battle it out in an entertaining 3-3 draw with the Swifts’ Brooke Boyd scoring in injury time to ensure the points were shared.

 

Ards Rangers got Division Four off and running with a 4-1 victory in the north down derby at home to Comber Rec Reserves last Sunday afternoon and this was followed by three point successes for Valley Rangers, Oxford Sunnyside and Ballymoney Utd Reserves. Star of the show this week in the division was Valley’s Caitlyn Rae who netted on no less than seven occasions in their win over Dromara Village Ladies.

 

It was a successful week for most of the “Seconds” team’s as Division Five got underway with victories for the reserve sides of Greenisland, Carrick Rangers and Belfast Ravens. The only exception to the rule were the 22nd Ladies whose seconds team were easily overcome by Wellington Rec.

 

There were winning starts in Division Six for Civil Service, Ballynagross and Donegal Celtic with the Celts hero being Nicole Johnston who bagged all five goals in their 5-1 defeat of Hanover.

 

There were opening day victories for Coleraine Women Reserves and Antrim Town Swifts to get Division seven underway with Newhill, Coagh United and Carryduff all winning on their debuts in the NIWFA Pathway league.