CLIFTONVILLE boss Tommy Breslin admitted it was case of a point gained rather than two lost after his side came from behind to earn a draw away to Warrenpoint Town on Sunday.
Despite going in front when Jordan Dane had put through his own net, Cliftonville were pegged back as the hosts took control with a well worked goal from Stephen Hughes before Mark Hughes rifled in a superb effort from long distance to put them 2-1 up at the break. Cliftonville sub Martin Murray levelled in the second half and both sides had chances to win it late on in an entertaining affair in front of a decent crowd.
“I thought our performance was sluggish and I didn’t think we were up to the speed of the game," said Breslin.
“Warrenpoint worked harder than us in the first half especially. They had better quality than us, they passed the ball better and we looked a bit predictable.
“I’m disappointed that we were 1-0 up and didn’t manage to kick on from there, but Warrenpoint deservedly went in at half-time 2-1 up and we were fortunate to get a goal in the second half and it could have went either way.
“The way it ended up, it’s a point gained. Whether it was a change of routine where we were training yesterday and playing today, that may have been a factor because players like their routines.
“That’s what I’m putting it down to – being different from the norm. We’ll put that down to experience and we’ll move on.”
The Solitude side were without the services of the influential James Knowles and with Tomas Cosgrove going off injured just before the break, Breslin would love a fully-fit squad at his disposal.
“James had his appendix out Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, we had Jude [Winchester] suspended, Marc Smyth out injured and now Tomas injured as well. It’s just one of those things,” he said.
“A week ago we had a very healthy squad and a lot of options on the bench and within a week that changes but we’ll just move on.”
Dane could only turn Martin Donnelly’s corner into his own net on 16 minutes, but Warrenpoint’s Stephen Hughes slotted home the equaliser following excellent work by brother Daniel down the left.
The home side went in front when the third Hughes brother, left-back Mark, unleashed a blistering 30-yard drive that beat Peter Burke, only for Murray to level midway through the second period from inside the box.
“We worked hard for every chance we had and, on another day, we would have scored another couple,” said Warrenpoint boss Barry Gray.
“I said to the players, this isn’t about what Cliftonville didn’t do. Warrenpoint stopping Cliftonville doing what they normally do. It’s the old cliché of having the monkey off your back. You can feel the relief in the changing room.
“It’s mixed with a bit of frustration because we feel we could have taken the three points but, when the dust settles, we can be very thankful we have a point today.”
