Mental note

Gerard Lyttle says Cliftonville’s players deserve credit for overcoming the mental challenge presented by last night’s encounter with Carrick Rangers.

Trailing after just four minutes at Taylors Avenue, the Reds almost levelled through Micheal Glynn before Luke Conlan scrambled home from a corner kick as the half-hour approached.

Alex Parsons went close to putting the visitors in front and Arran Pettifer volleyed against the crossbar before Cliftonville’s momentum was stalled by the half-time whistle.

Glynn saw an effort deflected on to the bar after the interval before the Reds netted twice in the final six minutes to claim full points, with a wonderful solo goal from Eric McWoods making it 2-1 before a firm finish from Joe Gormley wrapped things up.

“We’re delighted after that, especially after going down a goal so early in the game,” reflected Lyttle.

“Every time you come here, you know what you’re going to get – you’re going to get a tough game; you’re going to have to roll your sleeves up, you’re going to have to battle and it’s a mental challenge – and I thought the boys were absolutely excellent, as they have been in the last few weeks.

“We’ve obviously come in for a wee bit of criticism as well – and rightly so – because we haven’t finished in the top six, but we know that, the boys know that and all we can do now is just play what’s in front of us and be ready to win games.”

Lyttle was also pleased to see Cliftonville’s substitutes maintaining a recent theme of making their mark on a game, with McWoods and Gormley finding the net in addition to Rory Hale and Coran Madden playing key roles in the build-up as well as a solid display from half-time introduction Stephen McGuinness.

“I think that’s something that’s gone in our favour in a few games of late,” noted the Assistant Manager.

“The semi-final on Friday night was the same, the subs that came on did really well and two of them scored. Again tonight, two subs have come on and scored and it’s something that we preach to the players that are on the bench; that we want them to come on and make an impact and be ready to make a difference.

“You’ve got to credit the lads that have come on because it’s not easy coming on, especially on a Tuesday night down here in Carrick,  and I think you have to give them special credit – and special credit to all the lads because they’ve dug deep. Heads could have gone down after conceding and then, even after we scored, we could have had another two or three because we’ve missed two glorious chances through Micheal Glynn and Parso, then Arran Pettifer’s hit the bar.

“We could have been going in comfortable at half-time but, at the same time, the boys have stuck to the task and we’re obviously delighted to get the three points.”