Happy returns

Cliftonville 3-1 Dundela

Cliftonville commenced their pre-season programme with victory over Dundela at Solitude this afternoon.

Trailing to a first-half penalty from Mark Patton, the Reds – who made use of 22 players over the course of the game – hit back through Joe Gormley before the break, with Rory Hale and substitute Shay Reid netting in the second period.

Both Gormley and Shea Gordon had gone close to breaking the deadlock and, after Jonny Addis was unable to steer a header on target, the Duns were awarded a penalty for a foul from a corner kick delivery; Patton stepping up to stroke beyond Lewis Ridd.

Gormley again threatened at the other end before finally getting his reward with a sweeping finish after Hale had worked his way through a number of challenges inside the box.

After the interval, an eye-catching strike from Hale found the top corner to put Cliftonville in front before boss Jim Magilton introduced six Academy players as part of an 11-player substitution on the hour mark.

Joe Sheridan and Reid both had chances to extend the Reds’ advantage before the latter did just that in the closing minutes when he seized on a delivery from Eric McWoods to poke home from close range.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Casey, Keaney, Addis, Stewart, Wilson, Gordon, Glynn, Hale, Gormley, Curran. Subs (all introduced on 60 mins): Odumosu, Mitchell, Leppard, Gamble, Hawthorne, Pepper, Sheridan, Jordan, Mahoney, McWoods, Reid.