Campbell’s souper start

Cliftonville 3-1 Newington

Rhyss Campbell scored twice on his first appearance for Cliftonville in tonight’s 3-1 friendly victory over Newington at Solitude.

The forward, who joined the Reds from Coleraine over the weekend, opened and closed the hosts’ account, with a thumping header from one of three trialists in the starting XI in between.

His first was a piece of opportunism after a ball into the box took a fortunate ricochet off Conor Falls and fell at his feet, with his left-footed finish breaking the deadlock.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Trialist 1’s header doubled Cliftonville’s advantage while, after the break, an assertive run and cross from Academy talent David Green saw Campbell nod in at the back post.

Though Conor Pepper and Ryan Corrigan went close to extending the Reds’ advantage further, the final goal of the night went to the visitors, who reduced the arrears with a neat finish late on.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Leppard, Keaney, Trialist 1, Barr, Trialist 2, Glynn, Trialist 3, McCay, Campbell, Falls. Subs: Ridd, Sheridan (for McCay), Curran (for Falls), Corrigan (for Campbell), Hawthorne (for Glynn), Gamble (for Barr), Pepper (for Keaney), Green (for Trialist 2), McCay (for Trialist 3).