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Just goes to Joe

Cliftonville 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

Joe Gormley was in the right place at the right time to help Cliftonville overcome Dungannon Swifts at Solitude this evening.

And end-to-end encounter that saw both teams go close on multiple occasions was ultimately settled when Gormley was on hand to pounce on a loose ball after good work down the right from Shea Gordon.

While the Reds had opportunities to extend their advantage, the visitors came close to levelling more than once as the hosts held on to claim their third win from as many Sports Direct Premiership outings this season.

The first real opening of the night came Ruaidhri Donnelly’s way on 13 minutes when, possibly impeded by the high winds, defender Steven Scott’s attempted header back to his goalkeeper Declan Dunne fell to the Cliftonville striker, who was unable to lift his lob over the advancing custodian.

Gordon was certainly hampered by the elements when he was unable to make a telling connection on a Ronan Doherty delivery with 30 minutes gone while, just seconds later at the other end, Leo Alves clipped the crossbar after some smart play from Thomas Maguire.

Gormley’s header drew Dunne into action soon later and the Swifts stopper was quickly out to deny Ryan Markey a debut goal when he raced on to a Gordon throughball.

Another Gordon delivery presented an opportunity that Jonny Addis was unable to steer the right side of the bar, while the early stages of the second-half saw a thundering Gormley blast repelled by the keeper after yet more good work from Gordon in the middle.

Just past the hour, Sean Stewart’s corner saw both Addis and Markey unable to turn the ball home from close range but it wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken; Gordon exchanging passes with Kris Lowe before firing over a cross that Dunne could only turn into Gormley’s path with inevitable consequences.

Dungannon almost levelled six minutes later when Alves’ delivery ended with Niall Owens’ goalward header being acrobatically kept out by Odumosu before Doherty’s turn and shot fizzed just wide of the post at the other end.

Dunne got down to grasp an effort from Destiny Ojo and Cliftonville’s failure to kill the visitors off looked set to come back to haunt them two minutes from time when Odumosu’s save from John Scott saw the ball wind up at the feet of Adam Glenny, but he was unable to find the target from what appeared a favourable position.

Though one goal proved enough for victory, there was still time for the Reds to fashion one last chance with Ryan Curran’s cross being kept alive by Ojo before Markey’s hooked attempt crept wide.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Pepper (Piesold 46), Stewart (Ojo 75), Addis, Newberry, Donnelly (Markey 28), Lowe (Leppard 66), Conlan, Gordon, Doherty, Gormley (Curran 75). Unused subs: Breen, Corrigan.