Sport

Lyttle chances boosted further by Reds win in Ballyclare

Davy McDaid scored a hat-trick for Cliftonville on Tuesday night  
Davy McDaid scored a hat-trick for Cliftonville on Tuesday night   Davy McDaid scored a hat-trick for Cliftonville on Tuesday night  

Toal’s Bookmakers County Antrim Shield round one:


Ballyclare Comrades 1 Cliftonville 3

CLIFTONVILLE defender Éamonn Seydak says the entire Reds changing room want caretaker boss Gerard ‘Skin’ Lyttle to get the job on a permanent basis after Tuesday’s convincing County Antrim Shield victory over gutsy Ballyclare Comrades.

That’s two wins out of two now for Lyttle after he stepped into the managerial breach vacated by Tommy Breslin last week. And judging by Tuesday night’s display, the players don’t appear to want anyone else to get the job.

After the 3-1 win, Seydak said: “I know speaking to the players we would love Skin to get the job. He’s just continuing on from Tommy. He’s a familiar face, a likeable guy and a very good coach.

“He knows the game. I think the players have a lot of respect for him and bringing Mal Donaghy in has added a new dimension as well.”

Davy McDaid hit a hat-trick to ease the Reds into the next round of the competition, while Randal Reid got on the scoresheet for the home side, who were reduced to 10 men after before half-time.

Seydak added: “We’re very happy with the management team, but obviously those things are out of our control. If we keep doing the business on the pitch, then hopefully Skin will get the job and we’d be delighted with that."   

The Premier League side made the early running, with Ryan Catney hitting the Comrades crossbar and Marty Donnelly going close with two efforts in the opening 10 minutes.

The Comrades were competitive in the midfield sector, but their stout resistance was broken after 31 minutes. McDaid got his first of the night from the penalty spot after Comrades centre-back Chris Getty clipped Jay Donnelly’s heels. The former Derry City striker slotted home and grabbed his seventh goal of the season two minutes later.

The livewire striker raced onto Marty Donnelly’s brilliant first time pass and, with Getty and goalkeeper Gregg Shannon still to beat, McDaid turned sharply, leaving the pair on the floor, and clipped the ball into the empty net.

Despite the holders playing some neat, quick football, Comrades did possess a threat down the left side. Former Crusaders winger Michael O’Hanlon cut in from the flank and was unlucky to see his right foot drive come off the Cliftonville upright.

With a two-goal advantage, the Reds seemed to relax and coughed up another chance in the 41st minute to Randal Reid and the big striker’s shot squirmed past Conor Devlin in goal.

But any prospect of an upset evaporated after Getty was sent-off on the cusp of half-time for a dangerous tackle on Cliftonville winger Marty Murray.

With the home side a man down, the second half was a stroll for Gerard Lyttle’s side. Marty Murray and Donnelly spurned good opportunities before McDaid sealed Cliftonville’s place in the next round, tapping into an empty net on the hour mark after substitute Stevie Garrett’s header was saved by Shannon.

Six minutes later, McDaid should have grabbed his fourth after breaking clear of the Ballyclare defence, but Shannon made a fine save.

Reds substitute Ciarán Murray had a number of chances to get on the score sheet in the latter stages, but the Reds will be happy with their night's work.

MATCH STATS


Ballyclare Comrades: G Shannon, D Docherty, C Woods, S McIlveen, C Getty, A McCart, G Brown (M McQuitty 44), JB Dobbin, R Reid (S King 71), A Simpson (C Trussell 71), M O’Hanlon.


Cliftonville: C Devlin, J McGovern, E Seydak, M Smyth, C Bonner, R Catney, J Knowles, M Murray (S Garrett 59), D McDaid (C Curran 73), J Donnelly (C Murray 61), M Donnelly.


Referee: I McNabb