Naomi McLaughlin continued her terrific run of form, scoring twice as Glentoran Women overcame Belfast rivals Linfield in a closely contested Women's Challenge Cup quarter-final.

McLaughlin signed for the reigning league champions from Aberdeen on 20 July and has now scored seven goals in all competitions from just four starts for the east Belfast side. Such is the fixture congestion at this stage of the season, the former Sion Swifts and Cliftonville midfielder has already represented Glentoran in the UEFA Women's Champions League, the NIFL Women's Premiership and the Irish FA Women's Challenge Cup.

McLaughlin is the latest arrival to make an early impact under head coach Kim Turner. Aimee Kerr, Mia Moore and Gracie Conway have also become important members of Turner's squad, with Kerr and Moore progressing into the senior Northern Ireland set-up.

The Irish FA designated the game as its tie of the round and there was again little between two sides whose most recent league meeting ended in a 2-2 draw at Midgley Park in July.

The deadlock at Blanchflower was broken in the 34th minute, when McLaughlin gave Glentoran a lead they carried into the interval.

As they have done so often this season, Linfield responded well after the break. Cora Chambers continued her own prolific campaign by finding the equaliser in the 52nd minute, bringing the visitors level and leaving the quarter-final finely balanced.

It was McLaughlin who provided the decisive contribution. The 20-year-old struck for the second time in the 80th minute, restoring Glentoran's advantage with ten minutes remaining.

With three games in seven days, the hosts might have been expected to tire during the closing stages. Instead, Glentoran completed a successful week in which they scored 15 goals and conceded only twice. Turner made two changes, with Gracie Conway replacing Mia Moore in the 58th minute and Annie Timoney taking over from Emily Wilson in added time. Emma McMaster, Chloe McCarron and long-serving Kelly Bailie remained available from a strong bench.

McLaughlin's double continued a productive week for the midfielder, who also opened the scoring during Glentoran's 6-0 Premiership victory over Lisburn Rangers on Tuesday. She joined Turner's squad from Aberdeen last month after previously playing for Cliftonville and Sion Swifts.

Undoubtedly, Linfield will be hurting after a tie they will believe was within their reach. Yet that disappointment also says much about the progress made under Ryan McConville. Glentoran's hold over their south Belfast rivals is no longer as emphatic as it once appeared: Linfield knocked the Glens out of this competition with a 5-1 quarter-final win last season and have since taken league points from them at both Midgley Park and Blanchflower Stadium.

McConville can also take encouragement from the performances of former Sion Swifts pair Zoe McGlynn and Cora Chambers. McGlynn again brought calmness and composure to the Linfield midfield, while Chambers continued her prolific campaign by finding the net against one of the strongest sides in the country.

For Glentoran, the night delivered another semi-final, further evidence of their strength in depth and another decisive contribution from a signing who has made an immediate impact. Linfield's elimination will sting, but the margins between the Belfast rivals are narrowing. Friday belonged to McLaughlin and the Glens; the wider contest between the two clubs looks increasingly capable of becoming one of the defining rivalries in Northern Ireland women's football.