Reds fight back to beat Glens and retain League Cup
Cliftonville scored four second half goals to beat Glentoran
- Published
Cliftonville fought back from two goals down to beat Glentoran 4-2 as they clinched a record-breaking third successive Women's League Cup.
Emily Wilson netted early in the first half before finding the net once again on 33 minutes to give Glentoran a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.
However, Cliftonville responded in the second half with Caitlin McGuinness scoring two goals in quick succession with Marissa Callaghan putting the Reds in-front and Carla Devine netting deep into stoppage time.
The victory means that Cliftonville become the first team to lift the League Cup trophy in three consecutive seasons.
Glens dominate first half
Northern Ireland international Wilson netted two fine goals in the first half
Glentoran took an early lead after just four minutes when Wilson capitalised of a mix-up between Orleigha McGuinness and Fi Morgan and travelled into the box before sending a low effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
Cliftonville struggled to create many goalscoring chances with Orleigha McGuinness' header from a Kirsty McGuinness free-kick denied by Ashleigh McKinnon and Aimee Kerr on hand to clear Marissa Callaghan's set-piece.
With Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby watching on, striker Wilson grabbed her second of the afternoon and doubled the Glens' advantage just after the 30-minute-mark.
The forward controlled Demi Vance's through ball and fired a strong effort past Rachael Norney.
Cliftonville complete impressive comeback
Caitlin McGuinness scored twice to spark Cliftonville's comeback
The Reds started the second half with intent and were denied by the woodwork in the opening two minutes when Teegan Lynch's effort struck the crossbar after Glentoran's defence failed to clear Kirsty McGuinness' free-kick.
The early pressure would pay off though as Caitlin McGuinness' first time strike from Naomi McLaughlin's cross found the bottom corner in the 48th minute.
The stand-in captain then levelled the game on 62 minutes when she linked up with McLaughlin once again, this time to nod home her in-swinging corner at the near post.
In a tale of two halves, Cliftonville then looked the more dangerous with Glentoran struggling to break into the final third.
The Reds would complete the comeback with McLaughlin's free-kick nodded on by Morgan into the path of Callaghan at the back post and she headed home.
Things went from bad to worse for the Glens with Kascie Weir shown a straight red card for a foul on Morgan in additional time.
The Reds weren't done there and sealed the win on 94 minutes when McLaughlin bursts into the box and squared the ball for the unmarked substitute Devine to steer home.