Sion Swifts Ladies eased through to the quarter-finals of the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup courtesy of a resounding 6-1 victory at Lurgan Town Ladies.
Goals from Catherine Hyndman, Kendra McMullan, Tasmin McCarter, Lauren Brennan (two) and Ebony Leckey saw the Swifts safely through to the next stage of the competition.
For the first 20 minutes it was a case of both sides sounding each other out before Swifts’ Hyndman struck with a 30-yard drive to break the deadlock.
Four minutes later the visitors doubled their advantage when McMullan found the back of the net from 20 yards, leaving Morgan McCabe in the Lurgan goal with no chance.
The tie was effectively put to bed seven minutes after the restart as McCarter netted a third.
Sion made it 4-0 on the hour-mark when Brennan tapped in from close range. And it was a brace for Brennan as she scored her side’s fifth pouncing inside the six-yard box with four minutes left on the clock.
But the goals didn’t stop there. The hosts pulled one back on 87 minutes when Colette Young scooped a bouncing ball over Charlotte Ferguson in the Sion goal only for the Swifts to strengthen their grip on the game with Leckey’s angled shot from just outside the box.
Elsewhere Cliftonville Ladies edged to a 4-3 victory over Carnmoney Ladies while Ballymena Allstars claimed a 7-0 success over Ballymacash Young Ladies.
After a goalless 90 minutes the game between Comber Rec and Derry City FC Women finished 1-1 after extra time. Comber Rec went on to win 3-2 on penalties to progress.
Last season’s beaten finalists Linfield breezed through to the next stage with a comprehensive 13-0 win away to Downpatrick Ladies.
St James’ Swifts’ game against Crusaders Strikers was postponed while holders Glentoran and Lisburn Ladies progressed after PSNI Ladies and Lisburn Ladies respectively withdrew.
Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup R2 results
Lisburn Ladies v Portadown Ladies (withdrew)
Cliftonville Ladies 4-3 Carnmoney Ladies
Ballymena United Allstars 7-0 Ballymacash Young Ladies
Lurgan Town Ladies 1-6 Sion Swifts Ladies
PSNI Ladies (withdrew) v Glentoran Ladies
Comber Rec 0-0 Derry City Women (Comber win 3-2 on penalties)
St James Swifts P-P Crusaders Strikers
Downpatrick Ladies 0-13 Linfield Ladies
In pictures: Lurgan Town Ladies v Sion Swifts
