CLIFTONVILLE 3 LINFIELD 0
CLIFTONVILLE put Linfield to the sword to extend their lead at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership on Saturday.
Goals from Ciaran Caldwell and Liam Boyce - added to an own goal from Albert Watson - helped the Reds surge six points clear at the summit.
Linfield’s miserable day at Solitude was compounded with striker Mark McAllister being sent off in the second half.
Cliftonville broke the deadlock in the 16th minute with a fluid move that resulted in Caldwell tapping home from close range.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 as the Reds doubled their advantage.
Boyce picked up the ball on the right before cutting inside William Murphy and delivering a low shot that sneaked inside the far post.
Linfield almost reduced the arrears just before the break but were twice denied by the crossbar in quick succession with headers from Murphy and Philip Lowry.
Seven minutes after the break Cliftonville bagged their third goal.
Murphy attempted to clear George McMullan’s low cross, but the ball rebounded off teammate Watson and into the net.
The Blues were reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute when Mark McAllister was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Stephen Garrett.
CLIFTONVILLE: Devlin, McGovern (Seydak 85), Scannell, Caldwell (Gormley 25), McMullan, Garrett, Donnelly, Smyth, Catney, Knowles (Johnston 80), Boyce.
Subs not used: O’Carroll, Lynch.
LINFIELD: Blayney, Murphy, Lowry, Thompson, Carvill (Browne 65), Burns, Garrett (Fordyce 75), Watson, McCaul, McAllister, Black.
Subs not used: Armstrong, Curran, Ervin.
Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon)
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