NI Premiership Round-up - Week 15
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Cliftonville survived a stiff test of their championship credentials as they ran out convincing 3-0 winners over Linfield at Solitude on Saturday afternoon.
Linfield made the short trip across town on the back of a four game winning run in all competitions, scoring twelve goals and conceding none, and seemed to be shaking off their early season lethargy to make their customary charge up the league.
The home side began the game brightly, seemingly determined to show that their position at the top of league was deserved, by taking the game to the champions and Ciaran Caldwell opened the scoring when he rounded off a fine team move on fifteen minutes.
Liam Boyce doubled the host’s advantage six minutes later when his deflected shot found its way past Alan Blayney in the Blues goal to underline Cliftonville’s superiority in the opening quarter.
The Champions finished the half strongly and were unlucky not to pull a goal back when William Murphy’s header came back off the cross bar and the home side somehow kept out Philip Lowry’s follow up attempt.
The game ended as a contest when Albert Watson put through his own net to give Cliftonville an unassailable three goal lead and a bad day for Linfield was compounded when Mark McAllister was sent to the line for a petulant stamp on Stephen Garrett.
The result means that the Reds are now six points clear at the top of the Danske Premiership and, perhaps more significantly, twelve points ahead of Linfield who slip to seventh spot.
Ballinamallard United remain in second place despite suffering a 2-1 defeat away in Portadown with second half goals from Mark Patton and former Dundalk midfielder Sean Mackle giving the home side the lead. Andy Crawford pulled one back for the Fermanagh side but despite some late pressure they were unable to find an equaliser.
A stunning Stephen Lowry free kick earned Coleraine a point against Lisburn Distillery that moves the Bannsiders into third position, behind Ballinamallard on goal difference. Distillery took the lead through Phillip Simpson in the second half but couldn’t hold out for a valuable three points, although they do move off the foot of the table above Donegal Celtic who lost out to Glenavon 4-2 at Mourneview Park.
Ballymena United moved to a point behind Crusaders as goals from Alan Davidson and James Costello cancelled out Gary McCutcheon’s opener which leaves the Setanta Cup holders in fourth spot.
Elsewhere Glentoran are up to sixth on the back of a 2-1 victory over Dungannon Swifts who slip to third from bottom after taking just three points from their last seven league encounters.
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