Derry City Ladies got a harsh lesson dished out on their Dance Bank Premiership return last night at the Brandywell.
Derry City LFC 0 Linfield LFC 7
Pictures by North West News Pix
Megan Bell’s hat-trick helped steer double League champions Linfield to an emphatic victory on a night when six second-half goals twisted the knife on Daniel Nolan’s Candystripes.
The end result was harsh on City, who hit the post amid some decent chances in the second period.
Kirsty McGuinness’s opener was all that stood between the teams at the break, but Linfield swept to victory in part two.
After Derry – who had Donegal women Caoimhe Walsh, Lauren Cregan, Niamh Connolly and Jenna Doherty in their starting XI – had a penalty appeal turned down, Kirsty McGuinness broke up the other end and thumped past Naomh Barr for the lead.
Linfield struck three goals in rapid succession after the break with Bell bagging a brace and Ali Smyth also turned home.
Linfield were by now playing with a strong breeze and Jennifer McDade made it 5-0 when she headed in from Bell’s corner.
A stunning strike by Chloe McCarron showed the Blues were in no mood to let up.
A minute from time, they completed the rout when Bell completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot.
