With Reds boss Jim Magilton turning down overtures from east Belfast during the week, there were subplots aplenty ahead of kick-off
Glentoran shrugged off the ongoing managerial vacancy at the club to earn a gutsy victory over Cliftonville at Solitude on Saturday.
With Reds boss Jim Magilton turning down overtures from east Belfast during the week, there were subplots aplenty ahead of kick-off. And after defeat on home turf, former Northern Ireland star Magilton admits there will be a lot of soul-searching in north Belfast this week.
“I’ve been in the game long enough. My only focus was on getting a result today for Cliftonville,” said Magilton. “But we didn’t defend well, our two centre-halves didn’t win enough headers. We weren’t aggressive enough.
“We’ve got a big week ahead, a bit of soul-searching. That wasn’t anywhere near the levels I’d expect of our team.”
His side took the fight to the visitors from the off and came close to scoring inside a minute.
Ben Quinn delivered a dangerous free-kick into the box which deflected off a Glentoran head and was set to dip under the bar until Andrew Mills got a hand to it to tip it over.
The Glens grew into the contest and some sharp pressing from Ben Gallagher almost led to the opener as he caught Dean McMaster dawdling in possession before drawing a fine save from Peter Morrison.
Further slack play from Cliftonville was duly punished in the 15th minute. Shaun Leppard failed to clear his lines, heading weakly to Ross Clarke, who clipped a cross to the back post for Jack Malone to nod home.
Liam McStravick passed up a good chance to equalise, drilling a low shot against Mills’ legs after Quinn’s pass had sent him scampering clear.
A moment of magic from McMaster levelled it in the 33rd minute. Taking aim from 25 yards, the midfielder whipped a beautiful free-kick over the wall and beyond Mills.
Quinn teed up McStravick again shortly after, with Mills making another important stop for the visitors, and the sides went in all square at the break.
Glentoran came out for the second half on the front foot but it was Cliftonville who nearly went ahead after Brian Healy pounced on Marcus Kane’s header back to Mills, only to lift his shot over the bar from five yards.
The busy Mills pulled off another fine save, denying Quinn after Cliftonville skipper Rory Hale unlocked the Glentoran defence with a slide-rule pass into the winger’s path.
The home side’s frustration intensified when McMaster’s corner found Leppard unmarked in front of goal and the defender slammed a volley against the crossbar when he really should have scored.
At the other end it was Morrison’s turn to perform heroics, somehow deflecting the ball over when Clarke spun and shot from point-blank range.
But the Cliftonville keeper was powerless to stop the Glens’ 83rd-minute winner, as Jordan Jenkins capitalised on a frantic spell of pinball in the box to rifle into the net from eight yards.
Five minutes later, Malone — who had earlier been booked following an altercation with McStravick — saw a second yellow for a late hack on Hale.
But the Reds were unable to take advantage of the extra man as the Glens dug in for all three points.
Cliftonville: Morrison, Samuels (Conlon 20), Campbell, Hale, Healy, Leppard, McClelland, McMaster, Quinn (Gormley 71), Bannon, McStravick (Hawthorne 63).
Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, Kane, Clarke, Stewart, Sloggett (Kelly 76), Brown, Gallagher (Jenkins h-t), Larmour, Malone, Douglas.
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