Northern Ireland Women's Football Association

NIWFA BARCLAY’S LEAGUE REVIEW 17/05/26 to 23/05/26

BARCLAYS NIWFA CHAMPIONSHIP
With league leaders Sion Swift's game v Greenisland having to be abandoned due to an unrelated incident off the pitch this week, second-place St.James Swifts made the most of their postponement with a 5-1 win over Craigavon City. St.James goals on the night came courtesy of a Siobhan Bell double and single strikes from Katierose Rice, Olivia Connolly and Deborah Boyd, with Craigavon’s sole reply coming from Kayla Campbell. The result moves St.James to within two points of Sion, who still top the table.
Elsewhere, a late Olivia Blain strike gave Ballyclare Comrades a 1-0 win over Strabane Athletic, and in the division's final game this week, the league's bottom two were unable to find a goal between them as Mid Ulster Ladies and Ballymena United drew 0-0. This was United's fifth draw in eight games this season, the point moving them out of the bottom places.

BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION ONE
A Gracie Elliott strike was enough to decide a highly competitive game between Lisbellaw United and Carrick Rangers Falcons. The Result, coupled with Comber Rec's goalless draw at Ballynahinch United, sees Lisbellaw move four points clear of the top of the Division One standings. Elsewhere, Ambassadors continued their return to form with a 4-0 win over SOP, whilst Rosario also picked up three points following an impressive 2-0 win over Maiden City.

BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION TWO
Ballynahinch Olympic maintained their lead at the top of Division Two following a 4-1 win at Mid Ulster Ladies Reserves; however, Coleraine Women kept within touching distance following their 7-1 victory over Belfast Swifts. Armagh City and Ballyclare Comrades Reserves both lost ground at the top after they drew 2-2, with the division's final game seeing 22nd Ladies moving clear from the bottom after a comprehensive 7-1 win over Antrim Town, who have dropped to the bottom of the table following that result.

BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION THREE
The big game in Division Three this week pitted two sides who had started the game with 100% winning records as Belfast Ravens hosted Valley Rangers at Knockbreda. And what a game this turned out to be as the Ravens produced one of the performances of the season to totally dismantle their opposition, eventually winning 9-0. Four-goal Bethany Kerr was the star of the show in a result which was Valley’s first defeat in some three years of competing in NIWFA. Oxford Sunnyside made the most of Valley's slip as they moved level on points with them by defeating St Mary's, whilst Moneyslane defeated Ballymoney United Reserves. In the division's final game, the local derby between Ards Rangers and Comber Rec Reserves ended 1-1

BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION FOUR
It was a successful away day in Division Four, with all three travelling sides securing wins this week: Portadown won at Holywood, Draperstown Celtic won at Banbridge Town, and Wellington Rec won at Greenisland II. Those results mean it's still Portadown ladies who top Division Four with Wellington Rec in hot pursuit.

BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION FIVE
Donegal Celtic remain top of Division Five following a 4-1 victory at home to Bloomfield, with Ballynagross staying in second place following their win against Hanover. This week also saw wins for Dromara Village and Rathfriland Ladies.

BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION SIX
Division Six this week saw wins for 22nd Ladies II and Antrim Town Swifts, who defeated Coleraine Women Reserves and Belfast Ravens III respectively, with the division's final game producing a high-scoring thriller as 1st Bangor defeated Carrydiff 5-4, thanks mainly to a Leona Lappin hat-trick. The division's top two sides, Newhill and Wellington Rec Athletic, meet one another on Sunday, 24th May.

BARCLAYS NIWFA PATHWAY LEAGUES
League leaders Berlin Swiftettes had no game this week, with Ballymacash Rangers closing the gap at the top of the Eastern pathway league following a fine win over Larne Tech, for whom it was the first loss of the season. There were also victories for Willowbank, Castle Ladies and Carryduff Ladies II
In the Western Pathway League, Carniny moved to the top of the table following a fine 5-3 win over Loughgall Lakers, with Tristar, Ballymena United Reserves, Limavady United and Lisbellaw United Reserves also securing wins this week.

Image by Bob Hall
Report by Colin Hopkins
uhlsport UK Barclays Football Barclays UK

🏆 NIWFA League Cup – First Round Draw 🏆

The first round of the NIWFA League Cup is here! ⚽🔥

Matches kick off across Northern Ireland from tomorrow. All fixtures are here 👊

🎟️ Get down and support your local team

Another exciting week of Barclays NIWFA football awaits! ⚽🔥

League action continues this week for Division 6 and Club Pathway East & West, with teams ready to battle it out and build momentum as the season progresses. 💪

It’s also the start of the League Cup Quarter Finals across the leagues this week 👀🏆Keep an eye on our page for all upcoming fixtures.

If you’re free this week, get out and support your teams 💙⚽Don’t forget to tag us in your matchday moments 📲




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Bob Hall sent us these photos from the close NIWFA Barclays Championship match between Ballyclare Comrades Ladies FC and Strabane Athletic Ladies & Girls FC which Ballyclare edged with an 82nd minute winner. ⚽️ 👏



More photos can be found on our website at niwfa.org/media-2026

NIWFA BARCLAY’S LEAGUE REVIEW 10/05/26 to 16/05/26

BARCLAYS NIWFA CHAMPIONSHIP
Grace Dickson scored the quickest goal of the season to give Sion Swifts an early lead at Craigavon City this week. The goal, which came after only, wait for this, nine seconds of play, set league leaders Sion on their way to a 6-0 victory, although it should be noted that, despite the score line, Craigavon pressed them head throughout the game with Sion's clinical finishing being the big difference between the sides. Other scorers on the night for the Swifts were a Caoimhne Heron hat-trick and single strikes from Zoe Green and Chloe Boyle.
Defending champions St.James Swifts continued their recent fine form, defeating Ballymena United 3-0 at the Showgrounds. Two goals from Katierose Rice and one from skipper Siobhan Bell mean that St. James, in second place, trail Sion by five points, but with a game in hand. For Ballymena, the result saw them tumble into second from bottom of the standings, a situation they will be determined to rectify as soon as possible.
Bangor are in third place in the table, a position they retained this week following a thumping 7-0 win over Mid Ulster Ladies. Olivia Marshall was the star of this particular show, netting three times, and she was ably assisted by Amanda Morton, Amber Dempster, Laurie Bell and Naomi Donnan. For Mid Ulster, this result sees them remain on the bottom rung of the league ladder with only one point to their name so far this season, worrying times for the Mid Ulster Club.
In the division's final game this week, Ballyclare Comrades continued their recent return to form with a 4-1 victory at Ballymoney United. Four first-half goals from Aliyah Monthe (x2), Tazmin Watson and Molly Weir gave the hosts a second-half mountain to climb, and although they did pull one back through Abby Alexander, there was to be no way back in this one for Ballymoney.
BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION ONE
Lisbellaw United are top of Division One following their fourth consecutive win as they defeated Maiden City 3-1. The win meant Lisbellaw maintained their 100% winning start to the season, with their position assisted by Comber Rec being unable to break down a resolute Ambassadors defence as the sides drew 0-0, and Carrick Rangers Falcons, somewhat surprisingly, losing at home 2-3 to Ballynahinch United. The division’s final game this week saw SOP pick up their first points of the season, defeating Rosario 2-1.
BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION TWO
A 4-0 victory for Ballynahinch Olympic over Ballyclare Comrades Reserves saw the Olympic maintain their undefeated start to the season and, in doing so moving to the top of the Division Two table. Armagh City moved into second place after they recorded their third consecutive win, this time 1-0 v Coleraine Women, whilst Antrim Town’s difficult season continued as a 0-3 defeat to Belfast Swifts saw them fall to bottom place in the table. In the division's final game, Mid Ulster Ladies Reserves eased home 3-0 at the 22nd Ladies.
BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION THREE
Goals galore were the order of the day in Division Three, with 38 goals being registered across the four games played. Big hitters this week were Valley Rangers and Oxford Sunnyside, both of whom registered ten goals in victories over St.Marys and Ards Rangers, with Belfast Ravens not far behind as they scored nine against Moneyslane. Comber Rec Reserves narrowly lost 3-4 to Ballymoney United Reserves, leaving Valley and the Ravens locked on 12 points at the top of the table, with the two sides due to face one another this week.
BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION FOUR
Portadown Ladies and Wellington Rec both maintained their 100% records this week, with the Ports sitting top of the table following their fourth consecutive win, a 5-1 victory over Belfast Ravens II. Wellingon Rec made it three wins from three games played as they defeated Banbridge Town, whilst the division’s final game this week saw Greenisland Women II defeat Holywood Ladies 3-1
BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION FIVE
A Cliodhna Petticrew first-half hat-trick was enough to see Donegal Celtic Ladies defeat Shorts 3-2, with the result keeping the Celts at the top of the Division Five table. Ballynagross are in hot pursuit after victory over Dromara Village, but Bloomfield fell back as they lost 4-2 at Hanover. Elsewhere, Rathfriland Women defeated Ards Rangers Women 2-2
BARCLAYS NIWFA DIVISION SIX
Wellington Rec Athletic and Newhill remain joint top of Division Six as both side kept up their 100% records this week with victories over Carryduff Ladies and Coleraine Women Reserves respectively. Elsewhere, Belfast Ravens III picked up their first win of the season after they defeated 22nd Ladies II 2-1
BARCLAYS NIWFA PATHWAY LEAGUES
Victories for Berlin Swiftettes, Larne Tech, Civil Service and Carryduff Ladies II mean the Swiftettes remain top of the Eastern Pathway league, with three points separating them from Larne Tech, who have a game in hand.
In the Western Pathway League, Loughgall Lakers sit top of the table following a tightly fought 1-0 win over Lisbellaw United Reserves this week.
MFC Sports SUPER CUP – PRELIMINARY ROUND
A full review, along with highlights from the preliminary round of this season's MFC Super Cup, can be viewed elsewhere on our social media.

Image by Joemac Photography
Report by Colin
uhlsport UK Barclays Football Barclays UK

Another exciting week lies ahead across all Barclays NIWFA leagues, with teams ready to go again in the Championship, Division 1–6, and Club Pathway East & West 🙌🏼

As the season continues to build, every game brings more competition, more intensity, and more moments to celebrate. From big goals to hard-fought battles, there’s plenty of football to look forward to throughout the week! 💙

Make sure to get out and support your local teams if you can your support means everything 👏⚽




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