Low bar

Bangor 3-1 Cliftonville

Cliftonville struck the woodwork three times en route to a harsh defeat in this afternoon’s Sports Direct Premiership opener with Bangor.

Having seen Odhran Casey send first a header and then a vicious right-footed blast against the crossbar, the Reds fell behind when Reece Neale’s free-kick drew a save from Lewis Ridd but, after Seasiders defender Stephen McGuinness reacted quickest to the loose ball, Kyle Owens was left with the simple task of applying the finishing touch.

Cliftonville had dominated possession throughout the first-half but there was a noticeable lift in tempo after the interval and reward came on 51 minutes when Ryan Curran was on hand to convert Casey’s delivery from close range.

A further long spell of visiting pressure was then applied before Bangor reclaimed the lead with a bolt from the blue when Ben Arthurs met Jack O’Mahony’s cross with a wonderful header.

The closest the Reds came to levelling again was when debutant Adebayo Fapetu’s 25-yard strike came back off the bar and, as Cliftonville threw caution to the wind in search of a late equaliser, the hosts wrapped up victory when former Solitude Academy talent Michael Morgan nodded home Liam Burns’ cross.