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Linfield 1 - 2 Cliftonville

Goals from Ciaran Caldwell and Liam Boyce ensured that Linfield's league run without victory has increased to three matches. The Blues started without four first team regulars. Michael Carvill and Damien Curran sat out the game due to injury whilst Stephen Douglas and Kris Lindsay missed the game due to suspension.

The game started brightly enough. On 8 minutes, Chris Scannell found himself in a bit of space on the right hand side of the box but he sliced his shot wide of the right hand upright.

John Connolly had to be at his best on 15 minutes when Jim Ervin's inswinging free kick looked to be heading into the top left hand corner - the Red's goalkeeper tipping the ball over the bar for a corner kick.

The best chance of the opening stages of the game came on 17 minutes. Aaron Burns, who was filling in at left back due to the absence of Damien Curran, launched a dangerous throw into the box that was only half cleared by the Cliftonville defence, only for Philip Lowry to meet the ball with a rasping right footed volley. Fortunately for the Reds, John Connolly pulled off a terrific one handed save, diving to his right, to tip the ball out for a corner kick.

Cliftonville took the lead on 22 minutes thanks to Ciaran Caldwell. Chris Scannell received the ball on the left of the penalty area and delivered an inch perfect cross over the heads of the makeshift Linfield centre back pairing and Caldwell side footed his volley beyond the helpless Stuart Addis.

Linfield weren't to be undone by that early blow and on 26 minutes, Michael Gault almost equalised.

Curtis Allen's corner kick from the right was met by a powerful header from Gault and just as the ball looked destined for the back of the net, Ryan Catney popped up to head the ball off the line.

Two minutes later, Jamie Mulgrew played a superb ball through to Paul Munster who skewed his side footed shot harmlessly wide of Connolly's goal.

Cliftonville probably should have doubled their lead on 35 minutes - Ciaran O'Connor's free header from 6 yards went just wide of Addis' left hand post.

Linfield grabbed their equaliser on 40 minutes. Following a goalmouth scramble, Cliftonville failed to clear and Paul Munster got the deciding touch to put the ball into the back of the net. It was hardly 'goal of the season' material but it was what Linfield's first half performance deserved.

After only 5 minutes of the first half, Cliftonville almost snatched the lead. George McMullan's deep cross from the left evaded the noticably shaky Linfield back line and fell to the feet of Caldwell who, instead of recording his second goal of the day, fired the ball well over the cross bar from 14 yards.

However, it wouldn't be long until Cliftonville's bright second half start would tell.

On 52 minutes, the impressive Liam Boyce latched onto a superb right wing pass by Ciaran Caldwell to sweep the ball home past Stuart Addis. The young striker proceeded to beat his chest in front of the Linfield fans in the Kop stand before receiving a yellow card for his Adebayor-esque. celebration.

Cliftonville were beginning to really purr. On 52 minutes, Ryan Catney drilled a powerful right footed shot from 22 yards which Addis did well to save.

Catney was involved again on 58 minutes. Another long range effort was parried by Addis and just as it looked like George McMullan would convert the rebound, the Linfield keeper pulled off an excellent close range block to deny Cliftonville's charismatic midfielder.

Eddie Patterson's men had another glorious chance on 63 minutes. Chris Scannell slid a delightful through ball to McMullan whose side footed effort from the left of the goal went just wide of Addis' left hand post.

Linfield were offering very little in attack in the second half but in the late stages of the game, Paul Munster popped up at the back post, and just as he looked certain to score, John Connolly pulled off a brilliant block to maintain Cliftonville's lead.

It would have been rough justice on Cliftonville had Munster grabbed an equaliser for the home side following Cliftonville's second half dominance.

So Linfield surrender their lead at the top of the Carling Premiership Table and although they have a game in hand, they will have to up their game if they are to maintain a sustainable title challenge.

Linfield Team: Stuart Addis, Jim Ervin, Noel Bailie, Aaron Burns, Philip Lowry, Robert Garrett, Curtis Allen, Paul Munster, Michael Gault, Jamie Mulgrew, Billy Joe Burns.
Subs: Alan Blayney, Mark Miskimmin, Aidan O'Kane, Jamie Tomelty, Mark McAllister.
Cliftonville Team: John Connolly, Liam Fleming, Ronan Scannell, Barry Holland, Ciaran Donaghy, George McMullan, Chris Scannell, Ciaran Caldwell, Liam Boyce, Ryan Catney, Kieran O'Connor.
Subs: Francis Murphy, Declan O'Hara, Ciaran Boyd, Ryan Dunlop, Martin Jones.

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