NI Premiership Round-up - Week 7
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Cliftonville returned to the top of Danske Irish Premiership on goal difference when they came from behind to beat Linfield in Windsor Park.
Linfield had the better of the game in the first half but Brian McCaul’s rasping drive which flew narrowly wide was the nearest they came to opening the scoring. They made the breakthrough on the hour mark when Mark McAllister’s header squeezed through the legs of Liam Boyce and into the net.
The former Werder Bremen striker made amends one minute later when he latched onto a long ball just before the outrushing Alan Blayney and directed his shot home.
Things got better for the Reds four minutes later when George McMullan prodded home from close range and Cliftonville finished the game the stronger of the two sides, almost adding to their tally when Joe Gormley drew a fine save from Blayney in the closing stages.
The loss was the champions second successive defeat at Windsor Park and sees David Jeffrey’s men in the unusual position of eighth in the table with seven games played.
Coleraine slip to second after a goalless draw with third placed Glentoran at the Oval in what was largely uninspiring clash that saw the Glens reduced to ten men when Mark Clark was sent off for a reckless challenge on the 36th minute.
Despite this they almost took the lead in the second half when in form striker Andrew Waterworth had the ball in the back of the net only to be ruled off-side. Coleraine had the better of the second period and can count themselves unlucky not to have taken the lead when Stephen Lowry’s fine effort hit the woodwork.
Crusaders continue in fourth spot after Gary McCutcheon inspired them to a 2-0 victory over Donegal Celtic in Seaview.
The Scottish striker was a constant thorn in the side of the Celtic defence all afternoon and drew a penalty when fouled late in the game which he converted to add to Chris Morrow’s perfectly placed header which opened the scoring on the 75th minute.
Ballinamallard United continued to surprise when they stunned the visiting Portadown with two second half goals by Ryan Campbell and Chris Curran which sees them leapfrog Ballymena into fifth place in the table.
Ballymena were denied all three points against Dungannon Swifts by an injury time Josh Calhoon equaliser which cancelled out David Cushley’s earlier strike, while Lisburn Distillery remain bottom after a goalless draw with seventh placed Glenavon.
