Subscribe to the Sport Feed Sportback to Sport

Cliftonville 1-0 Lisburn Distillery

George McMullan pounced for the only goal of the game 10 minutes from time to claim the win which pulls Cliftonville three points clear of Glentoran in second place.

The Reds battered their opponents from the word go and missed a plethora of first-half opportunities to break the deadlock, including a 23rd minute incident which saw Chris Scannell round goalkeeper Phil Matthews only to blast the ball against defender Stuart Thompson and then the post from inside the six-yard box.

The crossbar was Scannell's adversary on 46 minutes.

The home skipper reacted quickest when Matthews spilled Kieran O'Connor's shot but he failed to guide his effort beneath the woodwork as the Whites heaved a sigh of relief.

They did the same again 18 minutes from time when referee Keith Halliday waved play on despite Gary Thompson appearing to handle in the box and, as incensed as the home support were with that decision, they were every bit as delighted when their players' efforts were rewarded on 80 minutes when McMullan stroked past Matthews after good work from Scannell.

Cliftonville were almost made to rue their missed chances late in the day when Distillery's veteran frontman Glenn Ferguson fashioned a chance for himself just inside the area only to see his powerful low drive brilliantly saved by John Connolly.

Cliftonville: Connolly, Fleming, R Scannell, Donaghy, M Holland, McMullan, C Scannell, Caldwell, Catney, O'Connor, Hutton. Subs: O'Hara, Dunlop, C Burns, Murphy, M Burns

Lisburn Distillery: Matthews, Callaghan, McShane, S Thompson, Melaugh, Muir, Kilmartin, J McDonnell, Ferguson, Gawley, Browne. Subs: G Thompson (for J McDonnell, 66 mins), Cooling, S McDonnell (for Gawley, 76 mins), Patton, McAlinden (for S Thompson, 27 mins)

Referee: Keith Halliday (Bangor)

© UTV News