FT: Cliftonville 3-0 Carrick Rangers (19:45 GMT)
FT: Cliftonville 3-0 Carrick Rangers
That is all from us as Cliftonville picked up a much-needed victory with a routine win against Carrick Rangers at Solitude.
You can read the report from the game here.
Thanks for joining us - goodnight!
FT: Cliftonville 3-0 Carrick Rangers
Not bad for a defender!
Stephen McGuinness rifles home a third for Cliftonville.
Watch: Stephen McGuinness scores for Cliftonville to make it 3-0
Cliftonville 3-0 Carrick Rangers
It's all over at Solitude, and the home side secure a commanding 3-0 victory with goals from Rory Hale, Alex Parsons, and Stephen McGuinness to return the Reds to winning ways.
Cliftonville 3-0 Carrick Rangers
The Reds almost add another as Destiny Ojo finds Ryan Corrigan with a well-weighted pass just inside the box.
Corrigan expertly turns his marker and unleashes a low shot from 12 yards, but it fizzes narrowly wide of the far post.
Stephen McGuinness - 89 mins
Jim Magilton's men seal the victory after the Gers fail to clear their lines following a scramble in the box, and the ball falls invitingly for Stephen McGuinness.
The defender wastes no time, rifling an unstoppable shot into the top corner, leaving Jack McIntyre with no chance.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
The visitors come agonisingly close to clawing one back as Adam Foley times his run perfectly to meet an inviting left-wing cross.
His glancing header at the near post beats Lewis Ridd but whistles just wide of the upright.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Jim Magilton running down the clock as Harry Wilson makes way for Conor Pepper.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Rory Hale won't be adding to his tally this evening as he is replaced by Destiny Ojo.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
An extraordinary moment at Solitude as Rory Hale finds himself clean through on goal, despite having left one of his boots behind in the other half!
Undeterred, the Cliftonville captain bears down on Jack McIntyre but can only muster a tame effort straight at the Carrick stopper.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
More changes for Carrick as Shane Forbes and Kurtis Forsythe enter the fray, replacing Nedas Maciulaitis and Reece Webb.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Alex Parsons's evening is over as he is replaced by Ryan Corrigan.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Jim Magilton's men with a slick passage of play as Odhran Casey charges forward on the overlap before laying the ball off to Ryan Curran.
Curran meets it for the first time, but the striker's effort is straight at Jack McIntyre.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Rory Hale bursts through the Carrick defence with pace, surging into a dangerous position.
With Alex Parsons unmarked and screaming for the ball, Hale chooses to go for glory, firing a low drive toward the bottom corner. However, Jack McIntyre is equal to it, diving sharply to gather.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Australian Alex Parsons rifles home his first Reds goal to double their advantage.
Watch: Alex Parsons scores for Cliftonville to make it 2-0
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
A double substitution for Carrick as Stephen Baxter shuffles the pack.
David Cushley and Luke O’Brien are introduced, replacing Ben Buchanan-Rolleston and Kyle Cherry.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Rory Hale and Ryan Curran attempt to add to their side's lead with a short corner.
Hale eventually crosses into the six-yard area, but Adam Foley is alert to the danger, and the experienced forward heads clear.
Cliftonville 2-0 Carrick Rangers
Kyle Cherry sees yellow after a reckless late challenge in the midfield, halting the Reds attempt to break forward.
Alex Parsons - 59 mins
The home side extend their lead, and it’s a moment to savour for Alex Parsons making his first start for his new side.
Parsons announces himself in style, rifling a thunderous strike at the near post that leaves Jack McIntyre with no chance.
Cliftonville 1-0 Carrick Rangers
Jim Magilton's men come agonisingly close to doubling their lead as Stephen McGuinness makes a surging run into the penalty area, meeting Shea Gordon’s sublime through ball with a powerful strike.
The effort beats Jack McIntyre but crashes off the far post.
Cliftonville 1-0 Carrick Rangers
High drama at Solitude as Kyle Cherry races off in celebration, certain he's scrambled the ball over the line for the visitors.
Jamie Robinson and his assistant remain unmoved, ruling that the ball didn't fully cross. The away side can't believe it, but play resumes with the Reds still in front.
Highlights: Cliftonville ease to win over Carrick
Cliftonville returned to winning ways in the league, dispatching struggling Carrick Rangers 3-0 at Solitude.
Rory Hale opened the scoring in the first half, pouncing on a defensive mistake from goalkeeper Jack McIntyre to finish low in the corner.
Alex Parsons doubled their advantage with a thunderous finish to open his account for the Reds before Stephen McGuinness blasted home a late third.
The much-needed victory moves Cliftonville into the top six, whilst Carrick are now winless in eight games.
Hale netted the opener for Cliftonville against Carrick Rangers
Hale latched onto a wayward pass from goalkeeper McIntyre before curling a shot from outside the box into the bottom-right corner.
The Reds extended their lead in the second half through Parsons, who was marking his first start after arriving in January from Brisbane Roar.
After Reece Webb was dispossessed, Parsons charged into the box and unleashed a ferocious drive at the near post, catching McIntyre off guard.
The home side capped a professional performance with a late third, when the visitors failed to clear their lines late on, allowing McGuinness to rifle into the top corner.
Despite a spirited effort, Carrick lacked precision in front of goal. Danny Gibson came closest in the first half, smashing a powerful shot off the near post, while Adam Foley's glancing header late on narrowly missed the mark.
Kyle Cherry thought he'd got his side back into the game, but his close-range effort was ruled out, with neither Jamie Robinson nor his assistant deeming the ball had crossed the line.
Next up for the Reds is a trip to face Glenavon while Stephen Baxter's men make the journey to Stangmore Park.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linfield | 28 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 21 | 32 | 64 |
|
| 2 | Glentoran | 25 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 31 | 21 | 10 | 44 |
|
| 3 | Dungannon Swifts | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 40 |
|
| 4 | Crusaders | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 35 | 39 | -4 | 40 |
|
| 5 | Larne | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 39 |
|
| 6 | Cliftonville | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 39 |
|
| 7 | Portadown | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 32 | 3 | 39 |
|
| 8 | Coleraine | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 39 | 36 | 3 | 35 |
|
| 9 | Ballymena United | 25 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 30 | 33 | -3 | 33 |
|
| 10 | Glenavon | 25 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 26 | 33 | -7 | 31 |
|
| 11 | Carrick Rangers | 27 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 41 | -19 | 22 |
|
| 12 | Loughgall | 26 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 25 | 61 | -36 | 13 |
|
Manager: Jim Magilton
Manager: Stephen Baxter
Manager: Jim Magilton
Manager: Stephen Baxter
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