Brace position for Healy

Cliftonville 3-1 Portadown

Brian Healy scored twice as Cliftonville claimed full points against Portadown at Solitude this afternoon.

Ben Quinn also maintained his fine start to life with the Reds with his third goal of the season, doubling the advantage against his former side shortly after goalkeeper PJ Morrison had made a wonder save to deny Eamon Fyfe.

Either side of Quinn’s header, Healy showed strength and composure to race clear and slot away the opener before completing his brace for 3-0 with an emphatic finish just when the chance seemed lost.

Fyfe pulled one back for the Ports and, though the visitors struck the post through Ahu Obhakhan, Cliftonville were more than worthy winners.

The contest had started with the hosts dominating possession and always looking the more likely to make the breakthrough but without ever particularly testing Portadown goalkeeper Jamie Barry.

That all changed on 18 minutes when Dean McMaster’s pass put Healy in the clear and, after holding off the challenge of Lee Chapman, he slotted confidently beyond the keeper.

Barry did well to stop Liam McStravick from seizing on indecision in the Ports backline and Rory Hale saw a strike ruled out for offside before Morrison’s reflex stop to keep Fyfe at bay maintained Cliftonville’s slender advantage.

That lead was doubled shortly afterwards when, after taking control in a wide area, Healy exchanged passes with Alex Bannon and delivered a delightful cross that Quinn was only too happy to convert.

McStravick went close again before the interval and the second period was just 10 minutes old when another McMaster pass encouraged Healy forward and, after appearing to have lost momentum when he cut inside to hold off the advances of defender Baris Altintop, he clipped a delightful effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Fyfe headed in a James Teelan cross on 65 minutes and, though Obhakhan then hit the woodwork, the Reds were always in control and might have restored their two-goal lead through two late Joe Gormley opportunities; the striker dragging an attempt across the face of goal and wide before being denied by Barry.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Samuels, O’Connor (Leppard, 76 mins), Hale (Thompson, 76 mins), Healy (Gormley, 86 mins), McClelland, McMaster, Quinn (Campbell, 58 mins) Bannon, McStravick (Conlan, 86 mins), Sheridan. Unused subs: Belshaw, Murray.