Sunday Blues

Linfield 1-0 Cliftonville

Cliftonville failed to fire en route to a timid defeat against Linfield in a low-key Sports Direct Premiership game at the Clearer Twist Stadium this afternoon.

Matthew Offord’s powerful 27th minute finish ultimately proved the difference between the teams on a day when the Reds lacked a cutting edge going forward.

A bright start made way for a largely forgettable affair, with Eric McWoods forcing an early corner before Shea Gordon saw a dangerous volleyed effort deflected behind by team-mate Conor Barr.

The deadlock was broken when, following a brief spell that saw Cliftonville unable to fully clear their lines, Offord picked his spot from the edge of the area.

Soon later, a fine save from PJ Morrison saw Kyle McClean’s free-kick turned against the post in what proved the last real goal threat of the match.

Offord could have perhaps done better at the end of a counter attack at the end of the first-half, while Tom Lavery saw a low cross gathered by Chris Johns at the other end.

Neither goalkeeper had much to do after the break, although Johns was grateful to take possession of the ball inside his six-yard box after Rory Hale had just been unable to get a touch on Barr’s pass.

With Linfield largely content to sit on their 1-0 lead for the majority of the second-half, the Reds were unable to find any real momentum in a game that petered out to a disappointing defeat.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Lavery (Wauchope, 62 mins), Wilson (Fapetu, 62 mins), Hale, Curran (Gormley, 62 mins), Leppard (Addis, 75 mins), Gordon, Barr, Casey, Keaney, McWoods (Falls, 75 mins). Unused subs: Ridd, Pepper.