Rigorous response

Jim Magilton admitted Cliftonville had “an awful lot of making up to do” when they took to the field against Glentoran last night and was thrilled with how his players bounced back from last week’s defeat to Glenavon.

After a feisty first-half in which neither side was able to carve out a clear-cut opening, the contest exploded into life almost immediately after the restart when Lewis Ridd got down to deny Christie Pattison before Nathaniel Ferris’ follow-up was bravely blocked by Harry Wilson.

Ryan Curran broke the deadlock when he converted after a Rory Hale drive had been saved, with Jack Keaney doubling Cliftonville’s advantage with a back-post header soon later.

Keaney went close again with a late free-kick, while the Reds’ clean sheet was preserved thanks to a fantastic flying stop that saw Lewis Ridd touch a fierce Johnny Russell blast over the top.

“It was the best response we could have given in terms of letting ourselves down last week and letting our fans down last week,” said Magilton.

“We had an awful lot of making up to do and this week, the appetite of the players, their attitude to training and their application in the game was wonderful.

“Both teams cancelled each other out to a large extent in the first-half, but we showed a great desire to win the game and the three points were huge for us.

“We had to dig in at times, especially at the start of the second-half.

“We talk about starting well in games and starting well in second-halfs and then we go and nearly shoot ourselves in the foot. Lewis makes a great save and then Harry Wilson’s block is sensational and that was probably pivotal.

“Moments in games count and had Glentoran gone ahead, things could have been different because they’ve very good front runners, they’re very disciplined and defensively, they’re very, very sound, so to score two goals in the manner in which we did and take them as clinically as we did, obviously we’re delighted.”