High five

Loughgall 1-5 Cliftonville

Cliftonville produced a five-star performance to claim full points against Loughgall at Lakeview Park this afternoon.

A whirlwind first-half spell yielded three goals to put the Reds in command and, despite the hosts pulling one back in the second period, further strikes either side of Villagers midfielder Tiernan Kelly’s dismissal ensured a convincing success for Jim Magilton’s side.

The deadlock was broken on 19 minutes when Micheál Glynn slid Joe Gormley through and he kept his cool to steer a finish beyond former Cliftonville goalkeeper Nathan Gartside.

If Gormley has been a familiar name on the scoresheet over the years, the man who doubled the Reds’ advantage certainly hasn’t been; Kris Lowe reacting well to a contested ball to stroke in for 2-0.

Jonny Addis’ 28th minute header extended the visitors’ lead further, with Glynn, Gormley and Ronan Doherty all going close to adding a fourth before Nathaniel Ferris claimed his by now obligatory Lakeview goal against Cliftonville with 20 minutes remaining.

Any hopes Loughgall had of that strike sparking a nerve-jangling finale were almost instantly extinguished, however, when substitute Taylor Steven showed neat feet before slamming into the bottom corner.

Kelly’s foul on Arran Pettifer earned a second booking from referee Jamie Robinson in the closing stages but there was still time left for another goal; Ryan Corrigan stealing through and steering past Gartside, with Taylor providing the telling touch on the goal-line.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Newberry, Kearney, Curran, Lowe, Conlan, Doherty, Piesold, Gormley, Glynn. Subs: Breen, Pepper, Pettifer (Lowe, 67 mins), Leppard (Addis, 75 mins), Markey (Doherty, 83 mins), Steven (Curran, 67 mins), Corrigan (Gormley, 75 mins).