Irish League Football

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Cliftonville midfielder Danielle Maxwell says she is delighted to win the Women’s Premiership Player of the Month award for September.

The Northern Ireland international has played a major role in helping the Reds continue their challenge for the league and Irish Cup double, scoring seven times as they won six straight games in the month.

It included a victory over Glentoran in the Irish Cup semi-final.

The highlight was a hat-trick as Cliftonville hammered Lisburn Rangers 8-1 in a crucial game in hand that put them clear at the top with five games left.

“I was actually shocked to get the award, but obviously delighted,” said Maxwell.

“I think I’ve started to come back to myself, and I’ve been getting on the score-sheet nearly every week."

Maxwell’s award comes ahead of a huge top-of-the-table showdown between Cliftonville and the Glens.

“The results show that we are gelling well as a team. Training has been really good – the quality and the sharpness – and I think we have brought it into the games.

“It’s paying off in results and hopefully we can continue to be unbeaten in the league for the rest of the season.”

Linfield striker Cora Chambers was runner-up with Maxwell's Cliftonville team-mate Kirsty McGuinness third.

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Ballymena United attacking midfielder Ben Kennedy's goalscoring exploits have been rewarded by being named as the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Month for September.

The prolific United player has accumulated 11 goals in all competitions to date, including nine in the Premiership to become the league's leading scorer.

Six of those goals were scored during September, five in the top flight.

Kennedy began the month by setting his side on their way to a 2-1 County Antrim Shield first-round win over Ballymacash Rangers, then scored dramatic late winners which secured three points for the Sky Blues in 1-0 victories over Larne at Inver Park and Glentoran at the Showgrounds.

The ex-Crusaders player netted two penalties in stoppage time in a 4-1 win at Carrick Rangers and added another from the spot as Cliftonville were defeated 3-2 four days later.

Kennedy's goals helped propel the Braidmen up to second place in the table by the end of September and Saturday's 4-1 home win over Loughgall meant Jim Ervin's moved top after Linfield's defeat by Glentoran on Friday night.

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Cliftonville defender Sean Stewart said that his side's 2-0 defeat against Carrick Rangers was "not acceptable".

Goals from Danny Gibson and Seanan Clucas sealed the win for Carrick as Cliftonville fell to their third consecutive league defeat.

And Stewart admitted that the Reds players were disappointed with their display at Taylors Avenue.

"It's a bad defeat, it is a tough pitch to play on and it is always tough coming here, but I just don't think we were at it today," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It's not acceptable so it is back to the drawing board and go again."

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international conceded that he can't work out the reason for the Reds' recent slide, which has saw them pick up just one win in their last five games.

"The performances the last few weeks we haven't been at the races at all, I can't put my finger on it, but it is something we need to sort out and something we need to get right quickly," he continued.

"There are super players in this team, we saw it last season and we saw it at the start of this season.

"We have had a few bad performances, but we just need to pick ourselves up and go again."

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Glenavon midfielder Jack Malone said the 2-1 derby win against Portadown was an "excellent afternoon" for the club.

Despite a positive first half display, the Lurgan Blues trailed at half-time at Mourneview Park after Ahu Obhakhan's goal.

But Malone levelled for the hosts in the second half before Davy McDaid scored a late winner.

"I thought first half was the best we played all season then we were hit by a sucker punch with the goal," Malone told BBC Sport NI.

"We regrouped at half-time went again scored two goals and got three points which was the most important thing.

"We were quietly confident we could score two goals, we did, and the wind did play a massive part, and we had that in the second half."

Malone was also grateful to open his account for the season with a composed finish.

"I had a chance a few minutes before which was probably an easier chance, and the goals haven't been coming for since the turn of the year but thankfully it went in and I'm always happy to see it hit the back of the net."

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Carrick Rangers chairman Peter Clarke has said that there has been "lots of interest" in the vacant managerial job at the club.

Stuart King departed as manager on Tuesday by mutual consent after a poor start to the season.

Players Curtis Allen and Mark Surgenor took interim charge for the club's 2-0 win against Cliftonville which brought to an end an eight-game losing streak in the league.

And Clarke is hopeful that a new manager will be at the helm in time for their next league game.

"As much as we haven't really advertised, we have had a lot of interest which is really pleasing," he told BBC Sport NI.

"There have been plenty of names going around, I can say that the interest has been local, and we have had interest from managers in the south of Ireland and in England," Clarke revealed.

"Definitively, we would like to be in a position that Wednesday or Thursday next week we will have a manager in place."

Clarke paid tribute to King and his assistant Scott Irvine for the "fantastic" three-year spell they had at the club.

"It has been really hard for us, we have to put on record our thanks to Stuart and to Scott, they did really well and have taken us to another level and they deserved the recognition," Clarke added.

"It was just one of those things, it didn't go for them this year. For us as a club, it has been really difficult but we're taking the right steps, and we know what we want in a manager."

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Coleraine boss Dean Shiels said that his side's 2-1 defeat against Crusaders at Seaview was "a game we never should have lost".

Stewart Nixon capitalised on a Coleraine defensive mistake to open the scoring in north Belfast before Dylan Boyle equalised for the Bannsiders.

Substitute Jordan Stewart took advantage of another error at the back to net the winner which condemns Coleraine to their second successive league defeat.

"The lads gave everything, we threw all we had at them, but it just wasn't enough," Shiels told BBC Sport NI.

"It was errors that were unnecessary that cost us and away from home those things hurt you."

Shiels expressed his disappointment that Coleraine did not make the most of a number of chances they created in the first half, with Jamie Glackin guilty of spurning a good opportunity soon after they equalised.

"If you look at the first half the chances we created, the territory that we had and the clear chances we missed it was really disappointing to go in level at half-time," Shiels continued.

"Second half I felt we were comfortable enough then we give away a really strange goal from our own throw in which was really cheap, and we have to react better.

"We created loads of chances which is a positive, but it is a defeat and we have to pick the lads up."

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Crusaders manager Declan Caddell was pleased that his side showed "grit and determination" to edge Coleraine 2-1 at Seaview.

Stewart Nixon opened the scoring for the hosts before Dylan Boyle replied for the Bannsiders.

Substitute Jordan Stewart then scored the winner as the Crues recorded back-to-back league victories.

"We had lost our last two games at home so to come here and get the three points today is massive," Caddell told BBC Sport NI.

"It was a very evenly matched game, I thought both teams went at it, both had opportunities and tried to play but it was all about the three points today.

"We needed to dig in at the end which was understandable as we were ahead but that grit and determination to get the job done and we had that in abundance."

Caddell was also pleased to see Nixon continue his fine goal scoring form and Stewart make an impact off the bench.

"Unfortunately for Stewart [Nixon] he has had to be very patient this season but now that's three in three.

"He got a knock to the head and had to be evaluated but Jordan Stewart. what a player to bring on and a cool, calm composed finish to seal the win and that is another positive for me," Caddell explained.

"Nine goals in the past three games so we'll take that and we'll move on."

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Carrick Rangers' joint interim manager Mark Surgenor believes their 2-0 victory against Cliftonville was a "step forward" for the club after their long winless run.

Goals from Danny Gibson and Seanan Clucas brought to an end Carrick's eight game losing streak in the league and saw them move off the bottom of the table.

And Surgenor, who is in charge with fellow teammate Curtis Allen following Stuart King's departure was delighted with their display in beating the Reds.

"The performance was unbelievable and that is what the boys are capable of," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought from start to finish we controlled the game, didn't take all of our chances but generally the boys were super.

"Everything we asked them to do they carried out, we defended really professionally and never once did we look stretched and all over the pitch the players emptied the tank."

Surgenor admitted that the players had a point to prove after King's departure during the week.

"When the manager leaves there is always a sense of guilt," Surgenor explained.

"I think there was a feeling of guilt, but the players also knew it was the start of a new chapter, we played with freedom and having not won in so long this is a step forward."

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Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton lamented the fact that his side were "second best all over the park" in their 2-0 defeat against Carrick Rangers.

Goals from Danny Gibson and Seanan Clucas condemned the Reds to their third successive league defeat.

And Magilton was critical of his side's display in their loss at Taylors Avenue.

"Carrick Rangers deserved to win the game, we were poor in all aspects of our game," he told BBC Sport NI.

"The two goals are extremely disappointing but there are very few excuses, we were just second best all over the park."

The Reds manager went as far as to apologise to Cliftonville supporters for the lacklustre performance, as they slipped out of the top six in the Irish Premiership.

"We need to apologise to our fans they come and watch and want be entertained and Cliftonville fans stick with their players if they show guts and determination to try and get a result, but their goalkeeper didn't really have to make many saves," Magilton reflected.

"Our quality into the box wasn't brilliant, our movement wasn't brilliant and our desire to get on the end of things wasn't brilliant, so if you have those ingredients, you're going to come away with nothing and we were so poor."

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Loughgall manager Dean Smith expressed his frustration that his side "gave away really sloppy goals" in their 4-1 defeat against Ballymena United.

The heavy reverse means that the Villagers are without a win since the opening day of the season and sit bottom of the table after results elsewhere.

And Smith admits that they are the architects of their own downfall in recent defeats, including at the Showgrounds.

"Probably another game we look back at and look at the poor defending as a group. We gave away really sloppy goals again today," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It is something we have tried to work on and rectify but at the minute it seems every time we have taken a step forward, we take two back, so we need to stick together and keep believing in what we're doing."

Smith admitted that he has been disappointed at his players inability to show their full potential so far this season after their impressive first campaign in the Irish Premiership last year.

"Over the last five or six games we have been way off it in terms of performances, we have had bits and pieces but not 90 minutes," Smith continued.

"If I was getting every last drop out of these players and we were losing I would have no problem with it but knowing what these players can do that is the most frustrating thing as a manager as there is more in them.

"Today was a tough day internally for the players, even though we got beat and we were really poor I'm proud of them because there have been things going internally, we have had to deal with."

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Portadown manager Niall Currie says he was "hugely disappointed" with both Glenavon goals in the 2-1 derby defeat on Saturday.

The visitors led at the break at Mourneview Park thanks to Ahu Obhakhan's goal, but Glenavon hit back with second-half strikes from Jack Malone and David McDaid.

"It's a tough one to take - you've got to come away with something, at least a point and I think we deserved a point," said Currie.

"I'm hugely disappointed with their goals. They were very, very preventable.

"We've a lot to learn but football's a very up and down game and we'll have our highs this season."

The defeat leaves the Ports a point behind Glenavon in 10th place.

"I think Glenavon's game management was better than ours," Currie continued.

"They were very clever and showed a lot of experience, the slightest touches [they were] going down and buying plenty of free-kicks.

"Fair play to them, we've got to maybe learn that side of the game as well. Sometimes we're a bit naive in situations."

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Glenavon boss Stephen McDonnell was delighted with his side's 2-1 comeback victory over Portadown in the Mid-Ulster derby.

Ahu Obhakhan put the Ports in front at Moureview Park and Jack Malone levelled before David McDaid netted a last-minute winner.

The dramatic win was Glenavon's first at home this season

"Better late than never and against our big rivals," said McDonnell.

"We were the far better side in the first half - their goal was a against the run of play and we shifted a few players at half-time.

"It was a fully deserved victory with two good finishes and we go home happy today."

Malone stroked into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 before McDaid fired home on the rebound for a late winner.

The win takes the Lurgan Blues up to ninth in the standings.

"We're making progress - we've gone under the radar and we're now a point off the top six.

"Jack has that ability, he's one of the best midfielders technically in the league and it was a great finish.

"That's why we took Davy to the club and he's scored two winners this week. He has pedigree, game understanding and quality."

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Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin praised his side's "very professional performance" in their 4-1 win against Loughgall at the Showgrounds.

Ben Kennedy opened the scoring from the penalty spot, with Kym Nelson adding a second soon after.

Jay Body pulled one back for the Villagers, before Andy Scott restored their two-goal advantage.

Joe Moore netted a fourth in the second half as the Sky Blues picked up their seventh successive league win.

"I'm delighted, we started really well, we knew we had to as we struggled on several occasions against Loughgall last season, and it was a very professional performance," Ervin said.

Whilst admitting his disappointment at the goal Ballymena conceded, the Sky Blues boss was pleased with their reaction and felt they should have scored more goals.

"We got the goal at a really good time, then we got a second. I'm disappointed with the goal we conceded, we were a bit naive, but the response after that was super and getting the third before half-time was really nice," he continued.

"Second half we were very professional, and we could have scored another few."

Despite sitting top of the Irish Premiership table for the first time in six years, Ervin says that his side are not getting carried away.

"It's fantastic to sit top of the league but it is only October, and we need to keep this winning run going as long as we can and keep getting points on the board.

"We have seen how quickly it has changed for the good, but we also know how quickly it can change for the worst."

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Glentoran defender James Singleton says his side will use Friday's 3-1 comeback win over Linfield as a "confidence booster".

Joel Cooper's goal had the Blues ahead at half-time but Jay Donnelly, Frankie Hvid and Cammy Palmer netted after the break to give the Glens the victory.

"We came in at half-time and Declan [Devine, Glentoran manager] said 'we'll just go for it now, go for it full press'. He asked me to press the centre-half and work as hard as I could.

"I think we did it really well in the second half and we were worthy winners in the end against a really good Linfield team on their own patch. We're all delighted.

"I thought we were really good in the second half, and being brutally honest I thought we could have scored another couple of goals near the end."

Glentoran host Carrick Rangers in the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Shield on Tuesday, then resume their Premiership campaign against Dungannon Swifts at the Oval on Saturday 11 October.

"It's important now that we carry it on into the next game," added Simgleton.

"There were boys in there who were disappointed to be left out of the squad. We've got a good squad and if we can keep everybody fit we will do well.

"The boys coming off the bench gave us a wee spark and a good bit of energy that was needed."