Reds lose game of chance

Cliftonville 0-2 Dungannon Swifts

Cliftonville paid the price for not taking their chances as Dungannon Swifts emerged from Solitude with full points from this evening’s Sports Direct Premiership meeting.

Two goals in the first 18 minutes of the second-half earned victory for the visitors, who were grateful to goalkeeper Alex Henderson for a string of saves that kept the Reds at bay during the opening period.

After fielding an early free-kick from Micheál Glynn, Henderson made a fine stop to deny Joe Gormley in the aftermath of Rory Hale seizing on an error by Danny Wallace and, though Axel Piesold was quickly on to the loose ball, his pass to Shea Kearney ended with the defender shooting wide.

A flowing 10th minute move ended with Ryan Corrigan being played through but Henderson was again alert to the danger, with Glynn seeing an effort from distance saved either side of Thomas Magure whistling a strike just wide at the other end.

Soon later, Hale again teed Corrigan up for a chance that Henderson repelled before good work from Odhrán Casey on the flank saw him deliver a cross that Gormley was unable to make a clean connection on in the middle.

The Reds saw a 22nd minute penalty appeal waved away when Corrigan was felled by a challenge from Wallace and, 10 minutes later, Dungannon came close to breaking the deadlock when a curler from Gael Bigirimana crept just past the upright.

Henderson then saved from Hale and reacted smartly to stop Corrigan making the most of the rebound before the first-half ended with Glynn sending a shot wide from just outside the box.

Bigirimana’s block on a powerful Corrigan effort suggested the second period promised more of the same in terms of goalmouth action but it was at the other end that the breakthrough came when, following the disputed award of a free-kick, James Knowles stepped up to find the net in style.

Jim Magilton’s frustration over that free-kick call, combined with a couple of quickfire decisions that referee Steven Gregg awarded against the hosts, led to the Manager being sent off before Lewis Ridd was forced into action when another Knowles effort threatened to creep below the crossbar.

From the resulting corner, however, the Swifts doubled their lead when Paul McGovern glanced home a header to put his side in firm control of a game that largely petered out thereafter, with Cliftonville unable to fashion an opportunity that might have set up a grand finale.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Addis (McWoods, 65 mins), Kearney, Hale, Piesold (Pettifer, 79 mins), Gormley (Parsons, 65 mins), Glynn (Stewart, 79 mins), Casey, Keaney, Wilson, Corrigan (Curran, 65 mins). Unused subs: Odumosu, McGuinness.