Strong view points

Glenavon 1-2 Cliftonville

Cliftonville claimed full rewards against Glenavon at Mourneview Park thanks to goals in either half from Joe Gormley and Ruaidhri Donnelly.

Gormley’s confident finish put the Reds in front after just three minutes but the Lurgan Blues levelled through Andy Hall before the visitors took control of proceedings with a dominant second-half display, during which Donnelly’s delightful curling finish ultimately proved the difference.

Despite the hosts making the brighter start, it was Cliftonville who made the breakthrough when Aaron Donnelly’s inch-perfect pass took Glenavon full-back Aaron Harmon out of the equation, leaving Gormley to stroke beyond the despairing dive of James Taylor.

After Richard Brush had easily gathered a Hall free-kick, Chris Curran got a shot away at the end of a slick passing sequence, only for Taylor to collect.

The Lurgan Blues came close to levelling when player-boss Gray Hamilton teed Jordan Jenkins up for a strike which crept just wide of the post but it wasn’t long before parity was restored when an uncharacteristic error from goalkeeper Brush presented the ball to Hall who, after a smart exchange with Hamilton, found the bottom corner.

Rhys Marshall was inches away from putting the home side in front but, after ending the first-half with Gormley drawing a stop from Taylor before nodding an attempt wide, Cliftonville began the second period with a greater sense of urgency and Donnelly was unfortunate not to make the most of an opening provided by a Gormley assist.

Gormley sent another header past the post before the Reds were in front when Aaron Donnelly’s throw-in towards namesake Ruaidhri saw the striker allow the ball to roll across his body before clipping a delightful effort into the top corner.

Taylor got down low to stop Gormley making it 3-1 on 68 minutes and, after Ruaidhri Donnelly had a strike ruled out for offside, Brush was quick off his line to keep Jenkins at bay.

The closing minutes saw Cliftonville twice go close to a more comfortable finale with Caolan Marron’s block preventing Gormley from finding the net again ahead of Robert Garrett clearing a Garry Breen header off the line.

With Brush commanding his area amid a late barrage of set-piece deliveries, the Reds held on to mark a return to winning ways and remain second in the Danske Bank Premiership table.

Cliftonville: Brush, Foster, Breen, Harney, A Donnelly, Doherty (Wilson, 90 mins), Bagnall, C Curran, R Donnelly, Gormley (Gorman, 87 mins), R Curran. Unused subs: Dunne, McDermott, McKee, Maguire, Casey.