Glens made the journey to Melvin Park Arena in Strabane this evening for what is always one of the most challenging games in the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership, in fact one that proved a banana skin last season. But this time the squad made no mistake and returned to Belfast with all three points.
The Glens, unchanged from last week’s seven goal win at Inver Park, started positively and dominated the play, but it was 26 minutes before the breakthrough. That came when close season signing Emily Wilson cut in from the left to drive past Jennifer Currie in the Sion goal and open the scoring. That’s how the scoreline remained for the rest of the half.
The second always looked like coming for the Glens but remained elusive util the hour mark. NIFL Player of the Year Joely Andrews rounded her defender and as she narrowed in on goal was hit by a mistimed sliding tackle in the penalty area. Referee Paul Larkin didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Top scorer Kerry Beattie stepped up and made no mistake with the penalty for her seventh goal of the season. 2-0 Glens!
The final goal of the evening came with fourteen minutes remaining. Caragh Hamilton’s used her blistering pace down the right wing to get in behind the Swifts defence. She puts a hard, low ball across goal where Emily Wilson was waiting at the edge of the box to pick her spot before firing inside the left upright for her second of the night.
So a 100% start to the season with 27 goals scored and none conceded so far for the Glens. Next up is a visit from Lisburn Ladies to Ashfield next Friday (19th May) at 7.45pm.
Glentoran Women: Ellie Scott, Annie Timoney, Jess Foy (c), Emma McMaster, Demi Vance, Nadene Caldwell. Chloe McCarron, Joely Andrews, Caragh Hamilton, Kerry Beattie, Emily Wilson
Subs: Ashleigh McKinnon, Jenna McKearney (for Wilson 80), Sarah Tweedie (for Timoney 73), Rachel Rogan (for Beattie 77), Sam Kelly (for Caldwell 73) Rachel McIntyre, (for Hamilton 80).
