Cliftonville Ladies fell to a 3-1 defeat against Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue this evening in their opening fixture of the season.
Marissa Callaghan fired the Reds in front but Carrick hit back three times to claim maximum points despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Angela Buckley.
Martine Power saw a couple of early chances flash over the top, while a quick Nikki Carlin free-kick also went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.
Power and midfield colleague Tanny Mount bossed the show from the centre of the park, even when Cliftonville were forced to play with 10 women for a five minute spell while Emma Kelly received treatment for a cut eye.
An unfortunate bounce in the six-yard area prevented Callaghan from firing Cliftonville in front from a Rachel Cromie corner, however she was not to be denied and eventually found the net with a looping cross which caught the Carrick goalkeeper unaware.
Seemingly on their way to three points, the Reds were pegged back almost immediately when the home side forced a series of corners and converted at the third opportunity.
Carrick then took the lead on the counter-attack and, with Cliftonville pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Buckley's luck was out when an attempt from the home side whistled just over her head and into the net for 3-1.
TEAM: Buckey, Cromie, Kelly, Irvine, Copeland, Callaghan, Power, Mount, Cooper, Mervyn, Carlin. Subs: Keenan, McAllister, Rooney. |
