Sport

Cliftonville too strong for Glentoran

Cliftonville's David McDaid celebrates scoring against Glentoran
Cliftonville's David McDaid celebrates scoring against Glentoran Cliftonville's David McDaid celebrates scoring against Glentoran

Danske Bank Irish Premiership: Cliftonville 2 Glentoran 0 

NOT even the arrival of former Rangers star Nacho Novo could save Glentoran from defeat at Solitude last night as goals from Chris Curran and Davy McDaid secured the points for Cliftonville.

Novo entered the fray midway through the second half but the Glens weren’t able to force home side goalkeeper Jason Mooney into a meaningful save the entire night.   

As it was Curran’s well-placed drive after 34 minutes from eight yards and McDaid’s stoppage-time tap-in gave the Reds their first win of the new season.  

The Glens, who had plenty of possession, huffed and puffed but were desperately disappointing from an attacking perspective.

The home side could easily have been two goals in front in the opening six minutes.

The Glens, who have kept faith with their 3-5-2 formation from last season, were twice cut open down their right side.

After two minutes, Marty Donnelly swung in a brilliant near-post cross but Daniel Hughes’ glancing header missed the far post by inches.

Four minutes later, Levi Ives stole forward from his left back sentry position to find Jay Donnelly at the back post but the lively striker’s looping header dropped on top of Elliott Morris’s net.

The Reds refused to press high up on Glentoran’s back three of Marcus Kane, Calum Birney and Johnny Addis and as a consequence the visitors managed to move into opposition territory with relative ease.

But apart from a couple of crosses, dealt with efficiency by Cliftonville’s new ‘keeper Jason Mooney, the Glens didn’t pose much of an early threat.

From the opening exchanges the home side had the sharper attacking edge and they made it pay by breaking the deadlock after 34 minutes.

Once again, Ives found space behind Glentoran wing-back Aaron Smyth and although Jay Donnelly couldn’t direct his header towards goal, the loose ball fell kindly to Chris Curran who scalped the ball low into Glentoran’s net.

Gerard Lyttle’s men continued where they left off after the interval and a majestic piece of wing play from Chris Curran enabled Tomas Cosgrove a sight of goal - but the defender's left foot effort drifted past Morris’s upright.

New signings Jason McGuinness and Chris Ramsey had solid games in central defence for the Reds, giving Glens strike pair Curtis Allen and Johnny Smyth little room to work in, while Marty Donnelly, Jude Winchester and Levin Ives posted fine displays.

Novo made his much-waited entrance for the Glens in the 67th minute and within seconds the former Sporting Gijon striker was on the receiving end of some cutting north Belfast humour about his rotund physique.

The 37-year-old Spaniard didn’t get a sight of goal and did little with what possession he did receive.

And just when the Glens began to throw caution to the wind in the closing stages Reds substitute Stevie Garrett set up McDaid for the simplest of finishes to send the Reds faithful home happy.

And Novo left the field with familiar chants ringing in his ears, while Gerard Lyttle will be content with his team’s solid performance.

In the other matches, Champions Crusaders again signalled their intent to hold onto their title as they hammered Carrick Rangers 4-1 away from home.

After Stephen McCullough's own goal had given the Crues the lead, they followed that up with further strikes Davud Cushley, Paul Heatley and Philip Lowry. TJ Murray scored for Carrick.

Glenavon came from 3-0 down at Ballymena to earn a 3-3 draw. After a Kyle Owens double and a goal from Cahair Friel had put the Braidmen in charge, the visitors came back to take a share of the spoils through a Guy Bates penalty, Greg Moorhouse and Ciaran Martyn.

Newly-promoted Ards followed Saturday's draw with Cliftonville with their maiden top flight win, 2-1 away to Dungannon Swifts.

Guillerme Keke and Kyle Cherry scored for the visitors and although Andrew Burns pulled one back for Swifts, it wasn't enough to clinch a draw.

Portadown, playing their first match of the campaign, got off to a winning start against Ballinamallard at Shamrock Park courtesy of goals from Garry Breen and Mark McAllister after Shane McGinty had equalised.

The Ports opted to withdraw captain Keith O'Hare from their starting line-up to avoid a potential registration mix-up with the IFA just a few hours before kick-off.



Meanwhile Linfield scored late on through Aaron Burns from a hotly-disputed corner to nick a point against Coleraine at Windsor Park after James McLaughlin had given the Bannsiders the lead.