Leppard picks his spot

Carrick Rangers 0-1 Cliftonville

A first-half header from Shaun Leppard was enough to earn Cliftonville full points from today’s Sports Direct Premiership trip to Carrick Rangers.

The central defender rose highest to nod Keevan Hawthorne’s free-kick delivery in off the post to hand the Reds a 16th minute advantage that ultimately proved enough for victory.

Cliftonville’s margin of success should, however, have been much greater and the game could realistically have been out of sight by half-time, with Tom Lavery twice denied by former Reds goalkeeper Nathan Gartside, who also did well to keep Ryan Curran at bay after a storming run from Harry Wilson.

Though the visitors found themselves under greater pressure after the interval, PJ Morrison didn’t have a save to make thanks largely to a committed defensive display by those ahead of him, however the Gers did threaten through a Danny Gibson snapshot and long-range effort from Aidan Steele that whistled just wide.

Cliftonville had two strong penalty appeals waved away – first for a foul on Eric McWoods and then for a later handball offence – while Hawthorne’s free-kick was kept out by Gartside as the Reds held on to deservedly claim a second win at Taylors Avenue in seven weeks.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Lavery, Addis, Wilson, Hale (McCay, 89 mins), Curran (Gormley, 85 mins), Leppard, Keaney, McWoods (Bermingham, 89 mins), Hawthorne, Sheridan (Gordon, 73 mins). Unused subs: Ridd, Pepper, Barr.