Ruthless Reds cut loose to put Drogs in eye of the storm SSE Airtricity Leagu
DROGHEDA United’s run of straight defeats in pre-season rose to six as they completed preparations for the upcoming league campaign with another reverse - this time against Irish League title contenders Cliftonville.
Thankfully the game was able to proceed despite Storm Dennis’ best efforts and Cliftonville - who had only ever beaten Drogheda once back in 1987 - made full use of home advantage at Solitude with four second-half goals.
Indeed, neither side were able to score in the first 45 minutes despite chances at both ends, the first of which fell to Cliftonville when Michael McCrudden fired wide of the target on the quarter-hour mark.
The game had reached the 22nd minute before Drogheda threatened, Chris Lyons seeing his effort blocked by Aaron Donnelly after a quick exchange of passes with Mark Doyle.
Declan Dunne in the Reds goal was then forced into an excellent save on 27 minutes when Adam Wixted’s slide-rule pass released Doyle whose low shot was well pushed away to safety by Cliftonville netminder Dunne.
Wixted and Doyle were proving something of a menace to the home defence and moments later it was Doyle who was put through on goal, only to be crowded out by Conor McDermott and Odhran Casey.
Conor McMenamin then came on in an enforced change by Cliftonville and on the stroke of half-time the substitute unleashed a low shot towards the near post which Drogs keeper Ross Treacy did very well to keep out.
There was little sign at that stage of the flood of goals to come, but the home side started the second half like a house on fire and took the lead when Thomas Maguire linked up with McMenamin before his low shot deflected off the luckless Hugh Douglas and into the net, wrong-footing Treacy.
McMenamin was then denied by Treacy before the Reds did double their lead on 52 minutes. This time Maguire whipped in an inch-perfect cross for Calvin McCurry who unleashed a stunning overhead kick into the net to raptures of applause.
Doyle probably thought he’d pulled a goal back with a header from close range, but the ball was brilliantly kept out by Reds midfielder Casey.
At the other end Treacy was called into action, plucking a McCrudden cross out of the air as Maguire lurked in a dangerous position at the back post.
McMenamin then made it 3-0 on 57 minutes when McCrudden whipped in a low cross and the sub fired beyond Treacy from close range.
Dunne then made a good stop as Drogheda tried to get a goal back as Jake Hyland’s corner reached Douglas whose towering header was tipped away by the young stopper.
Treacy then prevented a fourth Cliftonville goal, pushing away a looping cross from Dylan Snodden.
There was some consolation for Drogheda 10 minutes from time when Mark Hughes played a low ball across the box and substitute Jordan Adeyemo reacted quickest with a smart finish past Dunne.
However, Cliftonville had the final say in the 86th minute, with the superb McCurry dinking the ball over Treacy for his second goal and the Reds’ fourth of the afternoon.
CLIFTONVILLE: Dunne, McDermott, Foster, Wilson, McCrudden, Maguire, Donnelly, Casey, Rocks, McCurry, McKiernan.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Treacy; Brown, Tuite, Douglas, Kane; O’Farrell, Hyland, Hughes; Wixted, Lyons, Doyle.