Monday Monthly: November

With attentions visibly shifting towards the new season, cliftonvillefc.net today continues a weekly mini-series reflecting on the good, the bad and the in-betweens of the 2022/23 term.

Every Monday between now and the new campaign getting under way, we’ll take a chronological look back on a month from the the year just finished – with November taking centre stage today.

To say the month got off to an alarming start would be something of an understatement but, after falling 2-0 behind in a BetMcLean Cup clash with Newry City, the Reds roared back to maintain their defence of the trophy thanks to a quickfire double from Joe Gormley (below) before Ronan Hale sealed progress to the semi-finals.

Having rescued the situation from two goals down on that occasion, Cliftonville found themselves frustrated to surrender a similar advantage when Glenavon visited Solitude on Premiership duty.

Ahead through Hale and Gormley, the hosts appeared to be coasting towards full points only for the Lurgan Blues to stage an unlikely late comeback that saw Josh Doyle reduce the deficit ahead of Jonny Addis’ own goal, with Odhran Casey’s subsequent red card further compounding the disappointment at Solitude.

A goalless draw with Linfield at Windsor Park followed before Ryan Curran struck in either half to settle a tricky away date with Dungannon Swifts.

Curran was the hero again when Cliftonville visited The Oval a few days later; his sensational volley proving the difference as the Reds celebrated three points in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

The striker’s run of scoring form continued when he broke the deadlock against Newry (above) ahead of Gormley settling the issue to round the month off on a winning note – and one that seemed a world away from the mood that accompanied December’s opening joust with Ballymena United…

November 2023
Cliftonville 3-2 Newry City
Gormley [2], Ronan Hale

Cliftonville 2-2 Glenavon
Ronan Hale, Gormley

Linfield 0-0 Cliftonville

Dungannon Swifts 0-2 Cliftonville
R Curran [2]

Glentoran 0-1 Cliftonville
R Curran

Cliftonville 2-0 Newry City
R Curran, Gormley