Ballymena United 6
Cliftonville 1
League (NIFL Premiership)

Match Report

UNITED were in rampant form today, goals coming from Matthew Tipton (3), David Cushley, Michael Ruddy and Jim Ervin.

Moments after the game kicked off Matthew Shevlin broke free and the ball fell to David Cushley who shot low, but the ball went just wide of the post. With 7 minutes gone ex-United player Johnny Flynn had a chance but Dwayne Nelson got down to collect, and moments later had to make another save.

With 17 minutes on the clock, a misplaced cross from Shevlin hit the post and rebounded out of play for a goal kick. At the other end Jay Donnelly hit the bar with a header, before Shevlin cut in from the left and shot at goal but Reds keeper Peter Burke made an easy save.

Allan Jenkins nearly reached a through ball but it was put out for a corner. A poorly taken corner allowed Cliftonville to break, but thankfully the United defence got back in numbers to prevent a goal. On 27 minutes a penalty was awarded to the home side after Shevlin had been pushed over in the box, Matthew Tipton scoring from the spot.

At the very end of the first half Burke was sent off for a very poor challenge on Shevlin and a penalty was awarded to Ballymena, which Tipton scored to double the lead for United.

4 minutes into the second half Cliftonville had pulled a goal back after Chris Curran headed home from a cross into the box.

On 56 minutes the two goal lead was restored after Cushley got on the end of a long clearance and smashed the ball into the net from 20 yards. On the restart Shevlin played Jenkins through but his shot was put past the post by stand-in keeper Eamonn Seydak for a corner. Michael Ruddy had a good chance from the corner to head in at the back post but he headed just over the bar.

The link up play between Cushley and Shevlin was a delight to watch, the former taking the ball past the same man twice and crossing to the latter who headed just wide.
Cliftonville had a good period of play, Murray shooting straight at Nelson and a free kick just outside the box deflecting off the wall and out for a corner.

There was more joy in store for the Braidmen though as a Shevlin shot was saved by the keeper but captain Jim Ervin fired the rebound home. 3 minutes later Matthew Tipton sealed a hat-trick of penalties after Shevlin was taken down in the box again.

Match report written by Paul Irwin