Women’s Premiership: Glentoran and Cliftonville maintain perfect starts

Not to be outdone, Cliftonville also outclassed their opposition at the Bluebell Stadium.

Caitlin McGuinness broke the deadlock midway through the first half with a close-range finish and Louise McDaniel doubled up seven minutes from the break.

Rachel Kerr reduced the deficit moments later with a 20-yard drive beyond keeper Erin McAllister, but Caitlin restored Cliftonville’s two-goal cushion around the hour mark.

Big sister Kirsty made it 4-1 to the Reds soon after, with Victoria Carleton bagging number five with 20 minutes remaining.

Caitlin then completed her hat-trick with another close-range goal with eight minutes to go before Kirsty wrapped it all up right at the end.

Meanwhile, the stalemate between Derry and Larne wasn’t without its chances.

Ella Parker threatened for the visitors after a quarter-of-an-hour only to turn her effort into the side-netting while, at the other end, Ellie Redden’s long-range strike was well dealt with by Kate Smith.

That pattern continued into the second half with Kate Nicolson just failing to hit the target with a free-kick from distance, followed by a Caoirse Doherty run and shot that again ended up in the side-netting.