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Saturday Stepback: 1944

With the authentic matchday experience on hold for the time being, today sees the latest chapter of our new weekly series transporting us back to a game played on this day in yesteryear.

With the help of the Club’s Heritage Development Officer, Paul Treanor, every Saturday during football’s downtime, cliftonvillefc.net will revisit a match from the past via the medium of contemporary newspaper reports – with today’s spotlight falling on a County Antrim Shield defeat by Glentoran on April 4, 1944 and, as a bonus, an additional and quite remarkably nonchalant account of a 10-goal thriller from this day in 1891.


Extra Time Decision

Cliftonville hardly deserved to be beaten by Glentoran in the second round of the County Antrim Shield.

True, Glentoran were slightly superior in their methods and had they taken their chances in the first half, there would have been no need for extra time.

Full honours must be given to the Amateurs’ defence for the grip they held on the Glentoran forwards.

The football was of a poor standard and there were few thrills in the first half.

Cliftonville opened the scoring a minute from the interval when Wade shot through a ruck of players.

Glentoran fared much better in the second half and Gregg eventually score the equaliser from Deakin (the Scottish international), who was making his first appearance in Irish football.

In the second period Gregg scored the winning goal again from Deakin.

Currie at centre-half for Cliftonville played magnificently and the attack failed to take advantage of his openings. Dykes was best in the Glentoran defence.


Cliftonville v Distillery

The above League match took place at Cliftonville.

Playing with the wind, Distillery at half-time led by three goals to one.

On changing ends, Cliftonville turned the tables with a vengeance and, scoring no fewer than six points, won by seven goals to three.