A positive Turn

Ballymena United 1-2 Cliftonville

Luke Turner was the hero as Cliftonville’s wretched run of form at The Showgrounds ended with a fine victory in this evening’s Danske Bank Premiership encounter with Ballymena United.

Turner provided the assist for Ryan Curran to flick the Reds into the lead and, after the hosts had levelled with a well-taken Jack Henderson shot, the defender showed composure in front of goal to stroke home the night’s decisive effort.

Boss Paddy McLaughlin named an unchanged line-up from the weekend’s defeat of Carrick Rangers and, while not involved in a goal threat quite so early on this occasion, Ronan Hale was the first to try his luck but was unable to steer his attempt on target.

A mix-up at the back between Ronan Doherty and Nathan Gartside almost allowed Davy McDaid to steal in but the Reds retrieved the situation before Jordan Gibson directed a header straight at the Cliftonville keeper.

Stephen Mallon sent a shot over the bar before the breakthrough came when Turner’s charge down the left ended with him delivering a delightful pass into the path of Curran, who deftly back-heeled past Sean O’Neill from point-blank range.

More good work from Turner then set Rory Hale up for an effort that was charged down and, after Curran had seen a fierce blast deflected behind for a corner, Ronan Hale glanced a header wide.

While it was the visitors who looked set to add to the evening’s goal tally, Ballymena promptly levelled with their first real attempt of note – a sizzling Henderson drive that arrowed into the bottom corner from distance.

Stunned to have been pegged back, Cliftonville quickly went in search of the advantage again and Ronan Hale saw a header cleared off the line by Conor Keeley, whom Reds players protested had barged Curran out of the road just when he was set to convert.

The lively Mallon then sent a powerful strike just over the top and, though the second period began with McDaid lifting an effort over the same crossbar, the away side were soon back in command with Turner flashing a ball across the face of goal that Rory Hale was unable to get on the end of.

There was a scare at the other end soon later when Josh Kelly worked some space for himself inside the box and rolled a pass towards the back post, where Paul McElroy was waiting to pounce. Kris Lowe’s defensive intervention wasn’t quite what he had intended but his touch was enough to put the Ballymena man off, with the ball ricocheting off McElroy and behind.

Just past the hour, O’Neill made a smart stop from a dipping Ronan Hale shot before Curran was twice unable to make the most of possession falling his way from corners.

Cliftonville’s pressure eventually told when Lowe’s delivery from the right was missed by Ronan Hale but fell invitingly for Turner, who made no mistake.

It was almost 3-1 soon later only for ex-Reds midfielder Kym Nelson to take the ball off Ronan Hale’s toe just as he was lining up a pop at goal – and United almost made the most of that when Gibson raced through only to lift his lob straight into Gartside’s grateful hands.

Ronan Hale almost curled in from a narrow angle and Turner shot straight at O’Neill before good work from Joe Gormley saw the United keeper stripped of possession inside his own half, allowing Curran to try his luck from range but, though the ball sailed wide, Cliftonville had done enough and the whistle soon sounded to confirm a long overdue win on Warden Street.

Cliftonville: Gartside, Addis, Gallagher, Rory Hale (Gormley, 75 mins), R Curran, Lowe, Doherty, Turner, Ronan Hale (Casey, 85 mins), Coates, Mallon (McDonagh, 52 mins). Unused subs: Talley, C Curran, Robinson, Moore.