Caitlin McGuinness bagged a hat-trick as Linfield defeated Sion Swifts Ladies 3-1 at New Midgley Park in the last eight of the Electric Ireland Women's Challenge Cup.
The game was only four minutes old when McGuinness opened the scoring after the ball fell into her path from a rebound and she made no mistake in slotting home into the unguarded net after Sion's World Cup 'keeper Nicole McClure was stranded.
Both sides jostled for control but attempts were few and far between. However, Sion levelled on 20 minutes through Tasmin McCarter's close-range finish.
In what was an evenly balanced end-to-end encounter both sides had chances but neither could add to the scoreline before the break.
The second half started much as the first had ended but, on 57 minutes, McGuinness doubled her tally with a solo run from midfield before beating Jamaican international McClure one-on-one.
Searching for the equaliser, Sion Swifts just couldn't find the final touch and this ultimately cost them with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining when 'player of the match' McGuinness wrapped the game up after a neat cutback from Rebecca McKenna.
The Blues will be joined in the semi-finals by holders Glentoran Women who defeated Cliftonville Ladies thanks to goals from Jessica Davis and a Demi Vance double.
Comber Rec Ladies also progressed to the last four for the first time in the club's history courtesy of a 3-0 win over Ballymena United All Stars while Crusaders Strikers came from a goal down to sweep to a 4-1 victory over Lisburn Ladies.
Linfield: Perry, Hutton, K. McGuinness, Burrows, Timoney, McKenna, Magee, Howe, Donnan, C. McGuinness, McCarron subs McCleary (not used), Fitzsimmons, Bassett (replaced C. McGuinness 88), McDaniel (replaced Howe 79), Cameron (not used).
Sion Swifts Ladies: McClure, Brogan, Hyndman, Burns, McCarter, Toland, McMullan, McLaughlin, McGlade, Crompton, Brown subs McDaid (replaced McLaughlin 78), Leckey (replaced Hyndman 88), Feehan (replaced McGlade 84).
Main image: Electric Ireland's Anne Smyth with Linfield hat-trick hero Caitlin McGuinness.
