Pointed response

Cliftonville 2-1 Warrenpoint Town

Bayo Fapetu struck the winning goal as Cliftonville came from behind to defeat Warrenpoint Town in this evening’s pre-season friendly at Solitude.

The Reds had trailed at the interval courtesy of an Adam Carroll effort, but a strong second-half showing was rewarded with Rory Hale’s equaliser from the penalty spot before Fapetu’s emphatic finish.

Ben Quinn had gone close to breaking the deadlock only for his free-kick to produce an excellent save from the visiting goalkeeper before Brian Healy was unable to get enough purchase on his headed attempt from an Aaron Wightman cross.

Warrenpoint took the lead on 36 minutes when former Cliftonville striker Carroll – who moved to Solitude from the Point in January before completing a summer return – raced through and clipped in a shot which, despite the best efforts of Lewis Ridd, kissed the inside of the post on its way in.

Healy saw a shot deflected wide early in the second-half before the Reds were awarded a penalty when Hale’s free-kick was handled in the box by Conall McGrandles and the home skipper stepped up to confidently convert from the spot.

The second period was largely one-way traffic and, though the Point struck the bar with a delivery that looked to be sailing across the face of goal, Cliftonville always looked the more likely winners and came close to taking a 70th minute lead when Joe Sheridan’s chipped effort from a narrow angle dropped just wide.

Quinn saw a shot inadvertently deflected behind by Healy, and Paul Stanfield miscued from the edge of the box before the winner came 11 minutes from time when Cillian Murray’s cross was brought down by the Reds’ trialist and Fapetu was on hand to smash a low drive past the keeper.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Bannon, McClelland, Wightman, Samuels, Hale, Sheridan, Quinn, Fapetu, Campbell, Healy. Subs: Morrison, Kelly (Bannon, 69 mins), Stanfield (Hale, 69 mins), Cassidy (Healy, 80 mins), O’Connor (McClelland, 69 mins), Conlan (Samuels, 69 mins), Gormley, Leppard (Wightmanm 58 mins), Trialist (Campbell, 58 mins), Murray (Quinn, 69 mins).