A resolute Glentoran Women secured their second away win over Linfield in a month this evening but were made to work for it.
With Saturday’s All Ireland Cup hat trick hero Caragh Hamilton unavailable, Annie Timoney returned to her familiar right back position with Demi Vance moved into a left midfield role.
The Glens got off to a positive start when Joely Andrews gave them a fifteenth minute lead. But the Blues didn’t appear too rattled and within five minutes were themselves holding a 2-1 lead with goals from Riley Marks and Sienna Leckey.
Leckey turned from hero to villain two minutes before the break when she handled on the line from a clearly goal bound effort. The Linfield player received a red card for her handball and top scorer Kerry Beattie converted the penalty to even the game up going into half time,
If any Glens supporters thought it would be easy against a 10-woman Linfield they would be mistaken as the second half was another contest.
Another Joely Andrews header – her twelfth goal of the season – for what would ultimately prove the winner came on 53 minutes, but the Glens were not able to build on the lead, although they looked secure at the back.
There was one final incident on the final whistle when Glens’ midfielder was shown the read card for retaliation, although the initial Linfield transgressor stayed on the pitch. But Glentoran saw out the five minutes on injury time.
This win – allied to Cliftonville’s 3-1 defeat to Crusaders at Seaview – means Glentoran go into the second half of the Premiership campaign with a six-point lead over the Reds at the top of the league table, also with a better goal difference although we have played a game more.
On Sunday Glentoran Women meet Shamrock Rovers at the Blanchflower Stadium in the final group game in the Avenir Sports. A win on Saturday would take us into the semi-final so please try to get along to support the team.
Glentoran Women: Ellie Scott, Annie Timoney, Jess Foy (c), Emma McMaster, Kelly Bailie, Demi Vance, , Nadene Caldwell, Chloe McCarron, Joely Andrews, Kerry Beattie, Emily Wilson
Subs: Cerys Sharkey, Sam Kelly (for Timoney 46), Rachel McIntyre , Jenna McKearney (for Caldwell 80), Rachel Rogan (for Beattie 70), Kascie Weir, Megan Neill
Photography by Johnny Caldwell