NI Women's Report: Derry City Ladies 0 - 5 Cliftonville Ladies

After a delayed kick off, both sides attempted to make up for lost time as the match started at a frenetic pace. It took ten minutes for things to settle and it was Cliftonville Ladies who were doing the more serious pressing. Molly McBride, Derry’s goal stopper, played a sweepers role on numerous occasions to keep the Solitude attack at bay.

As the half progressed, Derry started to push forward in a more purposeful manner. Laura Cregan went close form a corner on 29mins for Derry and a minute later, Caoimhe Walsh blasted over from a dead ball, after McKenna handled outside her box.

Within 5 minutes to the interval, Emma McMaster got the breakthrough for Cliftonville. Having dispossessed the Derry defence, she charged forward 20 yards before unleashing a shot that went beyond the reach of McBride. Derry panicked following this opener and Derry Captain, Shannon Dunne, performed well in the middle of the park to keep things to a single goal deficit at the interval.

Appeals for a penalty following a challenge on Derry’s Laura Cregan in the box on 45 minutes were waved away by the referee.

The home side Introduced Aine McKeever in the second half but within two minutes they had conceded a second. Caoimhe Logue almost pulled one back as the hour mark approached but Amber Dempster finished the game as a contest moments later, making it three nil to the visitors. Caoimhe Walsh found herself through on goal not long after for Derry but McKenna did well to save with her legs.

It should have been four nil as the game headed towards it's conclusion but for the bravery of Derry defender, Naomi McMullan. Dempster then added a fourth following a defensive blunder. To Derry’s Credit, they didn’t give up and kept pushing forward but Cliftonville had the final say, as substitute McVeigh added a 5^th just before the final whistle.