Boyle Sports Irish Premiership
Cliftonville 2
Crusaders 1
From Kevin Herron at Solitude
CLIFTONVILLE kickstarted their league campaign with a 2-1 North Belfast Derby victory over Crusaders at Solitude on Friday evening.
Debutants Ben Quinn and Dean McMaster struck either side of the break and it looked as though that would set them on the road to a straight forward victory until substitute Elliot Dunlop cast doubt with a thumping strike in injury time.
The visitors were unable to force a dramatic leveller as Cliftonville held on for the derby bragging rights, much to the delight of boss Jim Magilton.
“They [Crusaders] carry a massive threat, we had to nullify that threat” he reflected.
“The best thing to nullify that threat is to keep the ball, keep possession of the ball and understanding that on the counter attack they’ve got real pace.
“For large chunks of that, we did very well and carried out the game plan outstandingly well. We executed it really well too.
“At 2-0, it's still uncomfortable even though you feel pretty confident. That was a lesson for us, in that we gave up and conceded a goal. We want to eradicate that from our game.
“I’m so pleased, because so many lads are making debuts and getting a feel of the league-that was important tonight. I thought they were outstanding, their confidence and momentum.
“The more they play together the better they are going to be, they are going to gel and overall, i’m very pleased with the performance”.
Magilton handed five of his summer signings debuts in the Derby. Three came in defence as Ollie Samuels, Alex Bannon and Aaron Wightman came in. There were also starts for Ben Quinn and Dean McMaster.
Both sides started with attacking intent with Adam Brooks shot straight at PJ Morrison and Crusaders debutant goalkeeper Shea Callister holding onto a Brian Healy shot on the turn.
Kyle McClelland glanced into the side netting from a Ben Quinn free kick 60-seconds before his side made the breakthrough.
Some neat wing play between Oliver Samuels and Rhyss Campbell led to Campbell flashing in a low ball that Rory Hale made a darting run across the path of and Ben Quinn was able to turn home from close range for a perfect start to his debut.
Ben Quinn celebrates scoring the opener for Cliftonville
There were a few half chances from Crusaders in response with Ryan McKay hooking in an effort that Morrison held onto, Finley Thorndike let fly with a snapshot that Morrison gathered, after spilling initially and Harry Jewitt-White let fly from distance.
The Reds themselves went close to doubling their lead. On the half hour mark Robbie Weir’s clearance fell to Rory Hale and Weir got in the way of the midfielder's effort at the expense of a corner.
Goalscorer Quinn then provided a pinpoint cross and Brian Healy’s downward header drew a low save from Shea Callister.
On the stroke of half time Finley Thorndike laid off to Ryan McKay and he found Owen Wardell whose curling shot was inches past the post as Quinn’s goal proved the difference at the interval.
Cliftonville dominated the early stages of the second period with Rory Hale twice going close to doubling his side's advantage.
They had the ball in the net a few minutes shy of the hour mark, but Brian Healy was adjudged to have strayed offside before his downward header hit the net.
The pressure paid off on 62 minutes when Kurtis Forsythe felled Harry Wilson on the edge of the box and Scottish midfielder Dean McMaster curled the resulting free kick into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
A further chance to extend their advantage went abegging with a quarter of an hour remaining, Quinn linked up with substitute Luke Conlon and he laid the ball back to Rory Hale a few yards from goal, only for Hale to blaze the opportunity over.
They would come to rue the Hale miss as Crusaders halved the deficit in injury time. Shea Callister’s long ball was flicked on by Scott Rough and the ball was played into the path of Elliot Dunlop to smash an angled shot into the corner of the net and make it 2-1.
The Hatchetmen pushed for a leveller in the closing minutes but Cliftonville held on to claim the derby bragging rights and an opening day league win.
CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison,Samuels (Conlon 74’), Wightman, McClelland, Bannon, McMaster, Wilson, Hale (Sheridan 78’), Quinn, Campbell (McStravick 70’), Healy (Gormley 78’).
CRUSADERS: Callister, Forsythe, Kelly, Blaney (Rough 84’), Weir, McKechnie (Dunlop 63’), Jewitt-White, Brooks, Thorndike (Doherty 63’), Wardell, McKay.
REFEREE: Tony Clarke
