Two-goal Jonny Addis pounced deep in injury-time to complete Cliftonville’s comeback and spark raucous scenes at The Newry Showgrounds.
The home side had taken an early lead through Adam Salley and, though the Reds laid siege to City’s goal from that moment onwards, they were unable to get the better of debutant goalkeeper Conor Mitchell until Addis unleashed an outrageous strike from distance to level things in the opening minutes of the second-half – by which time Newry had seen Ciaran O’Connor sent off for a crude challenge on Rory Hale.
Chance after chance followed cross after cross as Cliftonville went in desperate search of a winner and, with Addis redeployed up front for the closing exchanges, it duly arrived on 97 minutes when Ronan Hale’s delivery was expertly controlled by the centre-half, who leathered in from close range to complete the turnaround.
Full report to follow…