St James Swifts got their championship campaign off to a flying start with a comfortable 7-2 win over recently promoted Ballymacash Rangers Ladies thanks to goals from Mollie White, Anna Whibley, Chloe Doak, Amber Dempster, Claire Shaw and a brace from Aimee Johnston. Swifts had led 2-0 only to see Ballymacash level through two well taken Shelly Stothers strikes before the hosts eased back into a winning lead. Video highlights from this game can be found elsewhere on our social media pages.
Ballymena United Women also got off to a flying start securing a great 4-0 victory at Killen Rangers thanks to strikes from Chelsea Millar, Hannah Firth and two from recent signing Olivia Brown.
And in the leagues other game that was played in week one it was Larne who picked up the points defeating Comber Rec Ladies 4-1 at Inver Park. Goalscorers in this game were, for Larne, Teah Maguire, Amanda Morton, Gerogia Crawford and an own goal with Comber’s sole reply coming from Shannon McCullough.
The game between Foyle Belles and Coleraine Ladies was postponed.
In Division One Lisburn Rangers Ladies look like once again they will be the team to beat as they brushed aside Ballyclare Comrades Ladies 6-0 thanks to goals from Ellie-Mae Dickson x2, Faye Loughran, Eve Reilly, Tierna Bell and Ciara Tumelty. This was Ballyclare Comrades first game since merging with Carnmoney Ladies and although they will have been disappointed with the result they will have been delighted with an attendance of over 200 people who turned up to watch the game.
The game between Belfast Celtic Ladies and Crewe United Ladies finished with a 1-1 draw, but Crewe were given a three point deduction and forfeited the match due to fielding ineligible players in the game.
In the last game in Division One Armagh City Ladies and Bangor Ladies fought out a thriller with Armagh eventually winning 3-2 thanks to goals from Edith McCormick x 2 and Phillipa Dougan-Toal with the “Seasiders” responses coming from Leah Robinson and Beth Sloan.
In Division Two there were wins for two of the promoted sides Camlough Rovers and Kilmore Rec who beat Ballynahinch Ladies and Larne Olympic 2-1 and 3-2 respectively. In the leagues other game Ballyclare Comrades Reserves drew 3-3 with Ballymena United Ladies Seconds.
In Division three there were big wins for Ballymoney United and Antrim Rovers over Ambassadors and Belfast Ravens respectively with Greenisland picking up three points on the road as they defeated Rosario 2-1. In the divisions game of the night Shamrock Ladies came back from 4-0 down at Banbridge Rangers to draw 5-5 with highlights from this game also available to view elsewhere on our social media pages.
In Division Four Craigavon City Ladies had a big win over Moneyslane as did Strabane Athletic who comfortably dispatched Ballymoney United Reserves. In the Divisions other game Dromara Village and the 22nd Ladies drew 3-3
And finally Division Five this season has been split into two regional sections with Futuro Falcons, Lisburn Distillery and Comber Rec Reserves all getting off to winning starts in the Eastern Section and Maiden City, Lisbellaw United and Mid Ulster Reserves doing likewise in the Western section.