No going out on a Lim

Limavady United 0-2 Cliftonville

Goals in either half saw Cliftonville safely negotiate a potential banana skin clash with Limavady United in the first round of the BetMcLean Cup.

Though the hosts twice hit the woodwork over the course of the game, the Reds were always in control of proceedings and earned progress courtesy of a well-taken opener from Taylor Steven before substitute Destiny Ojo opened his account late on.

Their numbers decimated by injury and suspension, Cliftonville named five changes to the side that took on Larne last time out, including handing a debut to goalkeeper Lewis Ridd.

After some early to-ing and fro-ing, the deadlock was broken when Steven seized upon a Ruaidhri Donnelly flick on and picked his spot in the bottom corner and, while the Roesiders came close to levelling with a blistering free-kick that smashed against the inside of the post, the Reds saw a second effort ruled out when Rory Hale was adjudged to have been offside when Ronan Doherty’s low drive was turned into the net.

Cliftonville injected greater pace to their approach after the break and saw shots from Hale, Donnelly and Micheál Glynn charged down in dangerous areas, while both Shea Kearney and sub Ryan Corrigan just ran out of room when they were weighing up their options inside the box.

There was huge frustration in the visiting camp when Donnelly was hauled down by Graham Crown when though on goal but, to the amazement of all in Red, referee Gareth Stewart waved play on, sparing the Limavady defender what looked a certain sending off.

United struck the post again soon later and, in their attempts to force extra-time, saw Joe McCready miscontrol the ball right in front of Ridd’s goal before Cliftonville made sure of things in the closing minutes.

Ojo’s initial ball across the face of goal evaded strike partner Steven, but Doherty retrieved possession on the opposite flank and teamed up with Corrigan before delivering a cross to the back post, where Ojo was on hand to finish off.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Stewart, Newberry, Pettifer, Kearney, Hale (Corrigan), Donnelly (Ojo), Leppard, Piesold (Doherty), Glynn, Steven. Unused subs: Breen, Markey, Berry, Hawthorne.