Cliftonville v Portadown

Cliftonville 1 - 2 Portadown
08 Jul 2023 - 14:30Solitude

Cliftonville suffered defeat in their opening pre-season friendly as Portadown staged a second-half fightback at Solitude.

Leading through Joe Gormley’s penalty, the Reds were pegged back when Eoghan McCawl blasted an unstoppable drive past substitute keeper David Odumosu, one of 10 half-time changes by boss Jim Magilton.

A youthful home line-up then fell behind when Zach Cowan scrambled home at the end of an incisive breakaway from a corner kick for a strike that ultimately settled the issue, although Cliftonville did come close to levelling when a fierce attempt from Gerard Storey whistled just wide.

Cliftonville: Gartside, Turner, Gallagher, Rory Hale, Ronan Hale, McDonagh, Lowe, Robinson, Doherty, Gormley, McGuinness. Subs (all introduced on 46 mins): Odumosu (for Gartside), Kearney (for Lowe), Addis (for Robinson), C Curran (for Rory Hale), Foster (for Turner), Berry (for McDonagh), Storey (for Gallagher), Casey (for Doherty), Morgan (for Gormley), Trialist (for Ronan Hale).