Weather wins at Solitude
If there was a winner at Solitude on Saturday it was the weather.
Both Cliftonville and Lisburn Distillery tried their best to play football and entertain, but with the gale force wind and pouring rain, this was never going to happen as they fought out this scoreless draw on a sodden pitch.
Cliftonville manager Eddie Patterson praised his side after another promising performance, despite the weather, but blasted referee Michael McLaughlin after he failed to award a penalty in the second half.
"We had a number of chances in the first half, but didn't take them. I thought we asserted our authority in the second half and should have got something from the game," he said.
"I asked the referee after the match about the penalty incident and he said he didn't think it was a penalty.
"Ronan Scannell said he was clipped, other players said he was clipped and he then gives Distillery a free-kick for handball. How he didn't see the trip. I saw it from where I was standing.
"He says it wasn't a penalty kick. Ronan and all the players around him said it was a penalty. There is nothing we can do about it and all we can do is take it on the chin and get on with it," he added.
Patterson added that he has been working on his side's defence since the 4-0 league defeat to Linfield.
"I have been working on not trying to concede goals. We have been working with the lads the last few weeks and more so after the Linfield game," he said.
"We have seen now that we are a little bit more organised. We gave away very few chances today and that pleased me.
"We had our chances in the second half today, In this game you have to play for 94,95 or 96 minutes. We only played for half of that. I think we are heading in the right direction and hopefully we can kick on."
The Reds face Portadown in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup on Wednesday night and Patterson has a few players to worry about before the clash.
"Kieran O'Connor is out because of work commitments. We have not been able to work on people because of the midweek matches and we have been trying to rest people to keep them fresh.
"Barry Holland had to come off today with a knock so he will have to be looked at. So there will be changes, which is not good because we are building up momentum.
"The guys have been excellent since the Linfield game and I have shown faith in them and they have repaid me. Hopefully we can keep heading in the right direction."
Distillery boss Paul Kirk was pleased that his side had come away from the Cliftonville Road ground with a share of the spoils.
"They were very difficult conditions to play in and the pitch was difficult to play on," he said.
"The weather was terrible. It was gale force coming down the pitch. So for us to dig in and battle for a point and out in the performance we did. I am very proud of them.
"They were magnificent in the last half an hour. In the first half I thought we played well, but we allowed Cliftonville into the game the last 10 minutes of the first half.
“We gave then too many corners and free-kicks and they are good at delivering from those situations. It looked as if a goal was going to win this game. It didn’t come and we have picked-up four points from six, so I am happy with that.”
It was the Whites who started the brighter and could have taken the lead on 20 minutes. The impressive Curtis Allen found Gary Muir, but his effort flew wide with Reds keeper John Connolly stranded.
As the rain became heavier, the Reds pushed forward near the break trying to find the opening goal of the afternoon, but Whites stopper Phillip Matthews did well to deny Francis Murphy, before Mark Holland missed the target following a cross from Rory Hamill.
After the break the home side kept pushing to take the lead, but Hamill was denied by the crossbar before Matthews again came to his side’s rescue as he saved well from Chris Scannell.
On 69 minutes Reds keeper Connolly was again called into action. Connolly producing the save of the day to stop a beautiful free-kick from Allen.
The shot had looked destined for the top corner before the flying goalkeeper pushed the effort around the post.
Then with 12 minutes left on the clock Clfitonville had a penalty appeal turned down by the referee, must to the dismay of the home support and manager.
The visitors then had the chance to steal all three points near the end, but Allen's shot from inside the box missed the gaol by inches with Connolly rooted to the spot.
Neither side had any further chances and in the midst of a downpour and gale they made their way from the field.
Cliftonville: Connolly, R.Scannell, O'Hara, M.Holland, Hamill (O'Neill, 72 mins), C.Scannell, McMullan, Murphy, Donaghy, B.Holland (Catney, 10mins), O'Connor. Subs not used: Patterson, Boyd, Boyce.
Distillery: Matthews, Hall, Magee, Buchanan, McShane, P.McCann (Kilmartin, 58 mins), G.Muir, R.McCann, Cooling, Armour (G.Browne, 70 mins), Allen. Subs not used: B.Browne, P.Muir, Kingsberry.
Referee: Michael McLaughlin.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
