Cliftonville extend unbeaten Premiership run with victory in seven-goal thriller

In an action-packed first half, Eric McWoods put the Reds ahead after only three minutes before Jack Malone’s lob and a superb Bridel Bosakani volley gave Glenavon the lead.

However, Cliftonville responded immediately through Joe Sheridan and were ahead at the break following Jonny Addis’ strike.

Jack Keaney gave Cliftonville, who had been reduced to 10 men following Odhran Casey’s dismissal, breathing space in the closing moments with a first time effort from Rory Hale’s corner and then netted a second from a late free-kick.

Here’s the story of the match:

TEAM NEWS

Cliftonville: Morrison, Lavery, Addis, H. Wilson, Hale, Curran, Casey, Keaney, McWoods, Hawthorne, Sheridan.

Subs: Ridd, Falls, Leppard, Gormley, Barr, Fapetu, Tohill.

Glenavon: Byrne, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, McKeown, Malone, O’Kane, McClelland, Bosakani, McGovern, Quinn.

Subs: Hamill, Mallon, B. Wilson, Kee, Smith, McGerrigan, McShane.

Referee: Louise Thompson.

FIRST HALF

3: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (ERIC MCWOODS): Dream start for the hosts as McWoods latches onto a perfect ball over the top from Jonny Addis. The striker wins the race with Mark Byrne and pokes home. 1-0.

9: The game hasn’t resumed since the goal with Byrne remaining down. The goalkeeper can’t continue and 17-year-old Sean Hamill is coming on for his Premiership debut.

19: Paul McGovern weaves his way past a couple of Cliftonville defenders before unleashing a shot which Jack Keaney blocks. First bright spark for the visitors.

24: Rory Hale tries his luck from distance – his effort is deflected for a corner by Kyle McClelland. It comes to nothing and Glenavon launch a counter.

29: GOAL – GLENAVON (JACK MALONE): Long ball isn’t dealt with by Cliftonville and with Peter Morrison off his line, Malone lofts a lovely lob over the goalkeeper for an equaliser. 1-1.

38: Jordan McMullan whips in a dangerous cross which McGovern comes within inches of converting for another Glenavon goal.

41: GOAL – GLENAVON (BRIDEL BOSAKANI): Glenavon in front! The visitors take the lead and it’s a special strike from Bosakani. He’s in the right spot to volley home a wonderful effort. 2-1.

43: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (JOE SHERIDAN): It’s all going on at Solitude! Glenavon’s lead lasts mere minutes as Sheridan squeezes his shot under Hamill. His third goal in as many matches. 2-2.

45+2: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (JONNY ADDIS): Another goal! Addis puts Cliftonville back in front as he shoots from the edge of the box. Momentum has swung massively in matter of moments. 3-2.

HALF TIME: Cliftonville 3 – 2 Glenavon.

SECOND HALF

47: Thomas Lavery tries his luck from distance before Rory Hale’s effort is deflected for a corner, which comes to nothing.

53: RED CARD: Cliftonville reduced to 10 men as Louise Thompson shows Odhran Casey a second yellow card.

63: Triple change for the Reds as Joe Sheridan, Ryan Curran and Thomas Lavery are replaced by Adebayo Fapetu, Conor Falls and Conor Barr, while Corey Smith replaces Barney McKeown for Glenavon.

67: Hale latest player into the book for a challenge.

68: McWoods bounds into space and makes his way into the box before unleashing a shot which seems destined for the bottom corner, but Hamill pulls off a fantastic save low to his left.

74: Harry Wilson limps off for Cliftonville to be replaced by Shaun Leppard.

76: Yellow card for Corey Smith after a foul on Fapetu.

83: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (JACK KEANEY): Keaney surely secures victory for 10 men Reds with a fine finish into the far corner from Hale’s corner. His fifth league goal of the season. 4-2.

90+5: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (JACK KEANEY): Keaney grabs his second in the closing stages with a low curling free-kick. 5-2.

FULL TIME: Cliftonville 5 – 2 Glenavon.