Glentoran secured their place at the top of the Carling Premiership with an impressive 2-0 win over Cliftonville at the Oval.
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Glentoran 2 - 0 Cliftonville
Goals from Neal Gawley and Daryl Fordyce's eighth of the season gave the Glens their victory which meant that, five games in, they are the only remaining unbeaten team in local football's top flight.
An even start saw both teams have half chances without really threatening to open the scoring but as the game wore on it looked as though the Reds were more comfortable.
However Glentoran were dangerous on the break and on 18 minutes they took the lead, taking advantage of a mistake by Ciaran Donaghy.
The Reds defender failed to clear properly wide on the right, allowing Peter Steele the opportunity the cross for Gawley to follow up his goal against Donegal Celtic on Saturday with a fine finish past John Connolly.
Jason Hill blazed over for the Glens seven minutes later but on the half hour their lead was doubled.
Great play by Jimmy Callacher saw him race down the right before pulling the ball back for Fordyce to claim another goal and incredibly, at this stage of the campaign, equal his goal tally from last season.
The Glens rose out some fierce Cliftonville pressure after that, with Ryan Catney forcing a good save from Eliott Morris - but there were further chances to increase their lead with Richard Clarke and Fordyce again going close.
After the break Colin Nixon struck the top of the crossbar with a header, but from then on the visitors piled on the pressure.
Morris almost made an almighty blunder on 61 minutes as he raced out of his box but didn't get enough on his clearance.
Ronan Scannell attempted a shot from long range with the keeper miles away from goal, but Sean Ward, superb throughout alongside Nixon, cleared off the line.
Morris more than made up for his earlier error when he clawed away a Ronan Scannell header from a Liam Fleming cross which looked destined for the top corner.
Sub Matty Burrows could have sealed it for the Glens but delayed his effort which was eventually blocked - as was Ciaran Martyn's follow up - on 71 minutes and then Callacher headed over when well placed eight minutes later.
A late barrage had Glentoran on the rack but they stood firm and claimed three valuable points against fellow title challengers.
Glentoran: Morris, McGovern, Ward, Nixon, Hill (Black 62), Clarke (Gardiner 72), Callacher, Martyn, Gawley, Fordyce, Steele (Burrows 69). Subs: Black, Leeman, Burrows, Johnny Taylor, Gardiner
Cliftonville: Connolly, R Scannell (Seydak 85), Hutton, B Holland, Donaghy, Caldwell, McMullan, Catney (Fleming 50), O'Connor, Garrett, C Scannell. Subs: Fleming, Smyth, Seydak, McVeigh, Jones.
Referee: David Malcolm (Bangor)
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