High five

Cliftonville 2-0 Warrenpoint Town

Cliftonville made it five wins in a row as first-half goals from Jude Winchester and Chris Curran accounted for Warrenpoint Town at Solitude this afternoon.

Winchester opened the scoring on 13 minutes when he followed up to convert after Rory Donnelly’s effort had come back off the crossbar and the midfielder provided the pass from which Curran doubled the Reds’ advantage just before half-time.

Sean Graham Man of the Match: Chris Curran

The hosts started sharply and, though Town had looked neat and tidy in possession, it was Cliftonville who looked the more likely to find the first goal and so it proved with midfielder Winchester on hand to turn the ball home after the woodwork had thwarted Donnelly following Joe Gormley’s cross.

It was 2-0 a minute before the break when Winchester provided the pass that set Curran through on goal, with Conor McMenamin’s attempted challenge sending the ball back off the Reds’ winger and beyond goalkeeper Jonny Parr ahead of a non-event second-half which, aside from an eye-catching Jay Donnelly attempt from distance, never looked likely to threaten an amendment to the scoreline.

Cliftonville: Neeson, McGovern, Ives, Breen, Harney, Curran, Bagnall, Winchester, Gormley, J Donnelly, R Donnelly. Subs: Long, Hughes (R Donnelly, 62 mins), Garrett (Winchester, 53 mins), M Donnelly (Gormley, 69 mins), Lavery.

Sean Graham Man of the Match: Chris Curran
Half Gate Draw Number: 68053