A work of heart

Cliftonville 3-0 Portadown

Cliftonville produced a commanding Valentine’s Day display to see off Portadown at Solitude this evening.

Two sublime Ronan Hale efforts either side of Jonny Addis’ header secured all three Danske Bank Premiership points on a night that saw both teams pass up a host of opportunities in what could have otherwise been a goalfest.

Rory Hale, Joe Gormley and Ronan Doherty had all tried their luck before the deadlock was broken when Gormley touched the ball into Ronan Hale’s path and he swept a wonderful first-time finish high over goalkeeper Ondrej Mastny and into the back of the net.

The Ports were almost gifted a leveller when Chris Gallagher’s over-zealous backpass forced Nathan Gartside to first head and then volley the ball to safety, while the visitors were out of luck again when Stephen Teggart sent a curling drive whistling inches past the angle of crossbar and post.

Gartside was called into action to repel a low attempt from Cathair Friel before Levi Ives saw a free-kick kept out by a combination of Mastny and the woodwork.

The second period began with a couple of assertive Sean Moore runs causing the Portadown backline problems and, from one such forward foray, a corner kick was won that led to the second goal; Jamie McDonagh providing the delivery from which Addis gleefully nodded home.

McDonagh also sent in the assist that Ronan Hale acrobatically dispatched beyond Mastny for the goal of the night – but quite how that proved the end of the scoring is anyone’s guess.

Ronan Hale was two chances to complete his hat-trick come and go, while brother Rory was off target with a dipping volley in between Moore twice calling the keeper into action.

At the other end, Alberto Balde headed wide of the mark and Billy Stedman steered wide having weaved his way into a golden position as the Ports’ bid for a consolation amounted to nothing.

Cliftonville: Gartside, Ives (Moore, 46 mins), Addis, Gallagher (C Curran, 61 mins), Rory Hale (Traynor, 82 mins), McDonagh, Lowe (Casey, 67 mins), R Doherty, Gormley (Parkhouse, 61 mins), Turner, Ronan Hale. Unused subs: G Doherty, Coates.