Kyler touch

Cliftonville 1-0 Newington

Kyle McClelland scored the only goal of the game as Cliftonville’s pre-season schedule continued against near neighbours Newington this afternoon.

McClelland’s compatriots Dean McMaster and Alex Bannon were both handed starts a day after putting pen to paper with the Club – which, alongside PJ Morrison, took the tally of Scottish players in the Reds’ line-up to four – and McMaster almost had an instant impact; slipping Brian Healy in only for the striker to steer his attempt inches wide of the far post.

Former Cliftonville striker Ruaidhri Donnelly twice went close to putting Declan O’Hara’s side in front when he first drew a smart low save from Morrison before volleying over the top from a corner.

The breakthrough came on the stroke of half-time when McClelland’s thumping header found the net despite the best efforts of a Newington defender on the line and, just as the first period had started with that Healy chance, so too did the second-half begin with Cliftonville going close; substitute Rhyss Campbell this time narrowly off target.

After Morrison again denied Donnelly, Dan O’Connor almost got on the end of a dangerous Rory Hale free-kick delivery and Healy lifted an attempt wide before Cillian Murray’s clever pass presented an opening for Joe Gormley, who was denied by the keeper as the clock ticked towards the final whistle.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Wightman, Conlan, O’Connor, McClelland, Bannon, McMaster, Sheridan, Wilson, Trialist, Healy. Subs: Ridd (Morrison,  74 mins), Kelly (Bannon, 61 mins), Stanfield (McClelland, 61 mins), Cassidy (Conlan, 61 mins), Fapetu (McMaster, 51 mins), Quinn (Wightman, 61 mins), Hale (Wilson, 46 mins), Gormley (Healy, 61 mins), Murray (Sheridan, 61 mins), Campbell (Trialist, 46 mins), Moore (O’Connor, 74 mins).