Seeing red

Cliftonville 1-2 Glentoran

Cliftonville were left frustrated by big refereeing calls that went against them during tonight’s Sports Direct Premiership defeat to Glentoran.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time courtesy of finishes from Jordan Stewart and Pat Hoban, the Reds – who had largely controlled the opening 45 minutes – pulled one back through Joe Gormley but were unable to fashion an equaliser despite a sprightly display.

The evening’s biggest talking points were, however, two decisions by ref Louise Thompson, who chose to only caution MJ Kamson-Kamara for a professional foul on Brian Healy and then didn’t issue any card at all when the already-booked James Singleton hauled Ryan Curran to the ground.

They proved to be key moments in a lively contest that was filled with goalmouth incidents from the very start. After Stewart had twice got his bearings wrong as he bade to put the Glens in front, Cliftonville went close through a whipped effort from Curran.

Micheal Glynn and Liam McStravick then combined to feed Joe Toole inside the box but his fierce blast across the face of goal found no takers in the middle.

Then came the first refereeing controversy of the game when Healy’s attempt to race through on goal after an error from Kamson-Kamara on the halfway line ended with him being dragged to the ground by the Glentoran centre-half, who will doubtless have been relieved to have only been punished with a yellow card despite being the last defender.

Healy then went close to opening the scoring with a firm strike that whistled just wide before the away side converted at the other end when Hoban and Josh Daniels teamed up to put Stewart through and he made no mistake.

Cliftonville almost levelled straight away through a particularly unlikely source but, stretching to get on the end of Keevan Hawthorne’s delivery, Conor Pepper could only turn the ball against the post.

Three minutes later, the Glens led 2-0 and there was a disappointing simplicity about the goal as Hoban found enough time and space to nod home a Ryan Cooney cross at the back post.

Early in the second period, Shaun Leppard was unable to convert after Rory Hale had picked him out in the box but it wasn’t long before the Reds reduced the arrears when substitute Gormley did well to angle a hooked attempt beyond goalkeeper Andrew Mills.

A magnificent save from PJ Morrison prevented Aaron McEneff from immediately putting Glentoran 3-1 ahead and the keeper also did well to repel Singleton’s half-volley before Hoban went close from another Cooney cross.

As Cliftonville went in search of a late equaliser, Gormley found himself outnumbered when trying to thread Adam Carroll in on goal before Singleton became the second visiting player of the night to be spared a red card by the referee when he bundled Curran over.

Toole sent two attempts off target and Leppard could only steer a header wide as the Reds’ late efforts proved in vain at the end of a valiant display.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Pepper (Sheridan, 70 mins), Hale, Curran, Leppard, Glynn, A Kelly, Toole, McStravick (Carroll, 70 mins), Healy, Hawthorne (Gormley, 59 mins). Unused subs: Ridd, Jordan, McCay, Stanfield.