NIFL Premiership
Cliftonville 7
Carrick Rangers 1
At Solitude

CLIFTONVILLE leapfrogged Carrick Rangers into fifth place in the Boyles Sports Premiership with a thumping 7-1 win over the Amber Army at Solitude on Saturday afternoon.

On the day renowned for trick or treats, both were on display as Liam McStravick’s opener was cancelled out by Danny Gibson’s equaliser before the quarter hour mark.

Brian Healy continued his goal scoring exploits and restored the lead ahead of Rory Hale and Ben Quinn adding further goals before the break.

Healy claimed his brace early in the second half and a double from substitute Rhyss Campbell completed the rout for Jim Magilton’s charges.

The Reds boss was delighted with his side's attacking prowess and called for a quick recovery ahead of a busy November.

“I’m delighted,” Magilton acknowledged.

“Obviously, when you win a game in the nature in which we’ve won the game and showed the attacking prowess that we have in the team, it is always rewarding.

“The players deserve credit. They played with a lot of confidence today, despite the fact that we gave away another sloppy goal, but overall- delighted with the game, delighted with the result.

“Now we’ve a busy November. Seven games, a massive game on Tuesday night. We’ve got to recover quickly and get ready for it”.

There was one enforced change from last weekend's 3-1 win over Dungannon Swifts as Harry Wilson dropped out through injury and was replaced by Dean McMaster in the starting XI.

The deadlock was broken inside of ten minutes at Solitude and fell to the hosts. Liam McStravick played a one-two with Ben Quinn and although it looked as though he had over-run things and the opportunity had gone, Brian Healy picked up the scraps and the loose ball broke to McStravick to fire low past Nathan Gartside and make it 1-0.

Carrick Rangers hit back within four minutes however. Paul Heatley swung in a free-kick, Aaron Wightman’s partial clearance was headed on by Jimmy Callacher and Danny Gibson nodded past PJ Morrison to level.

The visitors should have hit the front when Adam Lecky threaded a neat pass that released Gibson, though Morrison was equally out to thwart the Gers goal scorer.

Instead Cliftonville regained the lead midway through the half. Alex Bannon slipped in Brian Healy whose shot was saved by Gartside, Liam McStravick picked up the scraps and his low cross was turned home by Healy at the second attempt.

Things got better for the Reds after the half hour mark. McStravick was again involved as his cross was flicked on by Healy and Rory Hale was on hand to turn the ball home for his second goal in consecutive weeks.

Just before the break Cliftonville extended their advantage, Joe Sheridan played a one-two with McStravick and clipped in a cross that Ben Quinn rose to head home and make it 4-1 at the break.

Rory Hale was inches away from doubling his scoring tally for the afternoon, though Brian Healy didn’t miss when a similar chance presented itself.

Aaron Wightman delivered an inch perfect pass and Healy latched onto the pass and thundered an angled shot high into the top right hand corner of the net.

Substitute Kyle Cherry almost pulled a goal back after spotting PJ Morrison off his line, but his dinked effort landed on the roof of the net.

With little over a quarter of an hour remaining substitute Rhyss Campbell netted his first league goal for the club.

Dean McMaster delivered a corner from the left and Campbell touched the ball home to break his duck after missing the whole of last season.

Campbell doubled his tally and completed the scoring in the 87th minute, Ollie Samuels throw in was chested on by Joe Gormley and his lay off released Campbell who produced a fine curling finish past Gartside to cap off an emphatic victory for the Solitude side.

CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison, Wightman, Leppard (McClelland 46’), Bannon, Samuels, McMaster, Hale (Thompson 71’), Sheridan, Quinn (Campbell 62’), Healy (Gormley 66’), McStravick (Corrigan 62’).

CARRICK RANGERS: Gartside, Nelson, Forsythe (Cherry 63’), Callacher, Clucas (Moore 73’), Gibson, Lecky (O’Connor 73’), McCullough, Steele, Heatley, Hawthorne (Crown 83’).

REFEREE: Tim Marshall