BLUES MAKE POINT

League leaders draw comfort

PHIL FINNEGAN

BY

IT’S as you were at the top of the table as Cliftonville and Linfield fought each other to a standstill in north Belfast yesterday.

Solitude was rocking at the later kick-off time and the Reds made a bright start to the game, pinning Linfield back before Chris Gallagher let fly with a shot from just outside the box that swerved inches wide.

Joe Gormley was next to have a pop after some fine footwork saw him skip past Chris Shields in midfield but his effort lacked the power to unduly trouble keeper Chris Johns.

Linfield finally came to life in the 18th minute when Billy McKee slipped a lovely pass through to Christy Manzinga but Luke McNicholas raced off his line to pull off a brilliant block save.

The Blues were then firmly on top but a rick by Connor Pepper in the 36th minute allowed Gormley to nip in and slam a left-foot shot at goal from 12 yards but Johns pulled off a smart reflex stop and Shields blocked Ryan Curran’s follow up effort.

Cliftonville finished the half in the ascendancy, Gallagher firing over and Curran heading a good chance wide but it remained goalless at the break.

The home side picked up where they left off on the resumption, with Curran flicking a Luke Turner throw-in on to Gormley but the normally lethal striker leant too far back and sent his shot inches

over.

Curran and Gormley combined again in the 54th minute but this time Johns made a stunning southpaw save at point blank range to deny the Reds’ record goalscorer. Johns was then fortunate to get away with dallying in possession around the hour mark as Curran blocked his clearance only for the ball to run out of play.

Linfield’s forays up the field were becoming increasingly rare but sub Jordan Stewart’s clever pass gave Manzinga a sight of goal only for the striker to blaze high and wide.

The French forward then latched on to Ethan Devine’s flicked header in the 82nd minute only to see his choked shot from a tight angle trundle out for a throw-in. Gormley turned provider for Curran as Cliftonville made one late push to nick the win but his low cross had too much heat on it and the ball sailed away to safety.

The home support still had to endure one final nervewracking moment when the Blues were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box but Stewart slapped a shot wide with the last kick of the game.