Crusaders Women beat Larne Women 3:0 in the Premiership Group Stage on Thursday evening. The result keeps the hosts top of the table with 10 points from five games. Larne sit seventh on just two points after matching the same number of matches.
The home side came through a difficult patch in recent weeks. They had lost 1:7 to Linfield Women and 1:5 to Glentoran Women before this win. And here's the thing — this performance looked nothing like those earlier results. To be fair, the quality gap had been visible for a while now.
Our prediction called for a Crusaders victory with 68 per cent confidence. It came through, and not by accident. Larne had failed to win any of their five games so far, drawing twice and losing three. They simply didn't have the tools to trouble a side that had found its rhythm.
The statistics tell the story without needing embellishment. Crusaders dominated possession and created chances freely. Larne had nothing to do all evening, which is harsh but accurate. The visitors were reduced to defending from their own half for most of the contest.
By then, the group standings were becoming clearer. Crusaders move four points clear at the summit after this victory. Larne remain rooted to the bottom, their goal difference a reminder of how heavy those defeats have been.