Won for all

Jim Magilton was delighted that Cliftonville got their reward for not simply settling for a point in last night’s North Belfast Derby.

Despite carving out the overwhelming majority of scoring chances against Crusaders at Seaview, the Reds’ efforts looked set to yield a mere draw until injury-time dramatics saw Joe Gormley celebrate a last-gasp victory.

“I thought we were the team that were on the front foot,” said Magilton.

“It’s never easy coming here but I thought we started the game so well.

“We asked questions and probably lacked a little bit of quality in the final third; probably the final pass where we needed a little bit more composure.

“Jonny Addis missed a great chance right at the start of the game with our first free-kick and you’re always wary that if you’re not going to convert those opportunities, the longer the game goes on, given the attacking threat that they possess, you might rue those chances.”

Magilton credited his men for chasing victory until the final seconds and, while lauding Gormley’s heroic instincts, he did acknowledge that another player challenged the striker’s status as match-winner.

“We kept going and you have to credit the players for that,” he added.

“They really kept going right til the end and, when the ball lands with him, there’s just this feeling – he just has this magic… although Addis is claiming it!

“It’s an absolutely great finish and obviously we’re delighted.

“That’s four on the bounce and they’ve been really difficult games. Crusaders are fighting for their lives but we just had a little bit of magic at the end.

“What pleased me most is that we kept going and sometimes you can maybe settle for what you’ve got – we didn’t and tonight was further evidence that the players are responding to the confidence that is seeping through the team and that’s really important.”