Cliftonville

4

Portadown

0

GORMLEY CLAIMS ANOTHER MATCH BALL AS REDS HIT FOUR

4th Apr 2015

Joe Gormley claimed his fifth hat-trick of the season as Cliftonville strolled to a comfortable victory over Portadown at Solitude.

The tone of the game was set as early as the fifth minute.

Ports 'keeper Billy Brennan brought down Jonathan McMurray as he attempted to take the ball past, conceding a penalty and collecting a straight red card in the process.

With no substitute 'keeper frontman Darren Murray went into goals but was powerless to prevent Joe Gormley firing the subsequent spot-kick high into the roof of the net.

Gormley doubled his tally for the afternoon five minutes after the break when he nodded home a Tomas Cosgrove cross from the right at the back post.

And he grabbed his hat-trick with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining with a simple finish into the bottom corner from the spot after James Knowles had been upended.

Martin Donnelly completed the scoring a couple of minutes from time six yards out after Cosgrove pulled the ball back into his path from Jude Winchester's pass.

Cliftonville: Cherrie, M. Donnelly, Knowles, Seydak, Smyth, Catney, Gormley, J. Donnelly, Cosgrove, Bonner, McMurray subs McGovern (not used), Scannell (replaced Seydak 70), McMullan (not used), McDaid (replaced McMurray 57), Winchester (replaced J. Donnelly 62)

Portadown: Brennan, Casement, Redman, Mouncey, McMahon, Mackle, Murray, Oman, Conaty, Lyttle, Richardson subs O'Hara (not used), Twigg (not used), Judge (replaced Mouncey 88), McElroy (replaced Conaty 36), Stewart (replaced Richardson 81)

Referee: Raymond Crangle

Attendance: 1075

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