Scorer Shaun brightly for boss

Jim Magilton voiced his delight for Shaun Leppard after the defender marked the first anniversary of last year’s season-ending injury by opening his Cliftonville goal account in yesterday’s defeat of Carrick Rangers.

Exactly 12 months to the day since he underwent surgery on a broken leg and dislocated ankle, the former Institute man nodded home a 16th minute free-kick delivery from Keevan Hawthorne to ensure the Reds departed Taylors Avenue with all three points.

“It was a great header,” said Magilton.

“Shaun has got massive potential and is a player that just needs a run of games. It’s been difficult because of our continuity with the back three but Shaun has proved here, in a game where you really have to win your headers, he’s won great headers in our box and scored with a great header, so I’m delighted for him.

“It’s a long way back when you’re injured, so everyone’s really pleased for him.”

Cliftonville’s margin of victory might have been more convincing were it for not former Reds goalkeeper Nathan Gartside, who twice prevented Tom Lavery from extending the visitors’ advantage before repelling a Ryan Curran attempt and then getting down well to keep hold of a Hawthorne free-kick.

The Reds also saw two second-half penalty claims waved away by referee Mark Dillon and were forced to dig deep in a solid defensive effort to see the job through.

“I’m delighted for the players,” added Magilton.

“I thought in the first-half, we were very good and created enough opportunities to put the game out of sight. We didn’t do that and it’s always very difficult given the quality of player Carrick have, especially on the counter-attack.

“There was always that danger but I thought we defended magnificently well. We just weren’t clinical enough. If there was one negative about our game, it was not putting the ball in the net and making the game more comfortable.

“In the first-half when we passed the ball, we carved Carrick open and did create really good opportunities to win the game more easily but that didn’t happen and credit to Carrick, they’ve got a lot of experienced players, they stayed in the game. We know they’re a massive threat from set pieces, PJ (Morrison) came and took a few crosses which is fantastic for us and overall, I’m just really delighted we backed up Tuesday with another win.”