Campbell’s super double

Crumlin United 0-9 Cliftonville

Rhyss Campbell scored twice as Cliftonville’s pre-season programme came to an end with victory over Crumlin United this evening.

Ryan Curran opened the scoring after 11 minutes when he found the bottom corner from the edge of the box after good work from Liam Fitzpatrick, who doubled the Reds’ advantage soon later by taking full advantage of the hosts’ failure to clear Joe Sheridan’s cross.

Dean McMaster’s pass teed Campbell up for a firm finish on 26 minutes before the Scotman’s free-kick made it 4-0 – despite the suggestion that Dan O’Connor had got the slightest of touches before the ball found the net.

A smart turn and finish saw Campbell double his tally on 37 minutes ahead of the contest’s most bizarre goal when the entire Crumlin defence stopped in anticipation of an offside flag against Bayo Fapetu, who also appeared to hesitate before realising that the officials had waved play on, allowing him to walk the ball into the net.

It was 7-0 on the hour when a low Ben Quinn drive was miscued by a defender, catching his own keeper out, with Rory Hale slamming home to make it eight with just under a quarter of an hour to play.

The final goal came two minutes later when Joe Gormley provided a finish from inside the box, with referee Jamie Robinson calling time on the game after 88 minutes following an injury to a Crumlin player, who was thankfully able to walk back to the dressing room following treatment.

Cliftonville: Ridd, Wightman, Conlan, O’Connor, Leppard, McMaster, Sheridan, Fapetu, Curran, McStravick, Campbell. Subs: Morrison (Ridd, 46 mins), McClelland (Leppard, 46 mins), Stanfield (Conlan, 46 mins), Moore (O’Connor, 57 mins), Wilson (Fapetu, 56 mins), Hale (Sheridan, 46 mins), Gormley (Curran, 46 mins), Quinn (Wightman, 46 mins), Thompson (McMaster, 46 mins), Cassidy (Campbell, 46 mins), Anderson (Stanfield, 71 mins), Skillen (McStravick, 57 mins), Ridd (Morrison, 71 mins).