Danske Bank Premiership: Cliftonville 1 Warrenpoint Town 0
IT MAY be early yet as far as talk of title challenges is concerned but Cliftonville’s form of late has surely made their Irish League rivals sit up and take note.
The Reds went six points clear at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership table thanks to Saturday 1-0 win over Warrenpoint and although some of their rivals have games in hand in a season which is just a month old, the mood is buoyant at Solitude.
Ryan Curran headed Cliftonville into the lead with 17 minutes left against Barry Gray’s Warrenpoint on Saturday, ensuring they have dropped points in only of their six league games to date – a 2-2 draw away to Crusaders in the north Belfast derby.
Warrenpoint may have struggled since their opening day win over Ballymena, but their ’keeper Conor Mitchell was in inspired form to keep the league leaders at bay at the weekend. Joe Gormley, Chris Curran, Levi Ives, Luke Turner, Kris Lowe, Chris Gallagher and Ryan Curran himself all had efforts saved by Mitchell before that 73rd minute conversion from a Levi Ives corner.
“They’re probably the toughest three points we’ve earned this year,” said Reds boss Paddy McLaughlin after the match.
“Warrenpoint were excellently set up and very well organised right the way through the game and when you see their ’keeper pulling off a couple of great saves, you’re thinking ‘it’s going to be one of them frustrating days’.
“When you’re on top with the forward-thinking players we have in the team and the strikers that we have, you always trust them and you always expect and believe in them that if they get a chance, they’ll score.”
Having put nine past Knockbreda in the County Antrim Shield in mid-week, McLaughlin was confident his players would eventually come up with the goods against Warrenpoint if they stuck at their task.
“The ’keeper’s pulled off a couple of great saves so every time one goes a begging, you’re hoping for the next one to go in, so when it came, we were definitely delighted and relieved,” he added.
“I think the people attacking the ball are trusting and believing in the quality of whoever’s providing the cross. All season long, the deliveries from Levi Ives, Jamie McDonagh and Daniel Kearns have been fantastic and hopefully that continues.”
Saturday was a good day for both north Belfast clubs as Crusaders travelled to the Oval and dismissed Glentoran 3-0. An own goal by defender Caolan Marron, a Ben Kennedy penalty and Aidan Wilson's late header secured an impressive win for the Crues which moved them up to third in the table.
Coleraine are ahead of Crusaders on goal difference after a 3-0 derby victory over Ballymena United at Ballycastle Road. Matthew Shevlin, Cathair Friel and Eoin Bradley were all on target for Oran Kearney’s men.
Dungannon Swifts got a first win of the season under their belts with a 4-1 drubbing of basement club Portadown at Shamrock Park. Goals from Ryan Mayse and Joe McCready put the visitors 2-0 in front before Sammie McLeod pulled one back for the Ports. Cahal McGinty added a third for Dungannon before Rhyss Campbell put the icing on the cake.
Champions Linfield were held to a goalless draw by Glenavon at Mourneview while Carrick Rangers also held Larne to a stalemate at Inver Park.
