Linfield miss chance to move second with Reds loss

Cliftonville beat Linfield 2-0 at Solitude to move back up into the top six and end the Blues' 10 game unbeaten run in the Irish Premiership.

It was a largely quiet affair in the first half with Matthew Fitpatrick and Kirk Millar squandering chances for the visitors.

The Reds edged themselves in front in the 64th minute through Shaun Leppard before substitute Joe Gormley made sure of the points deep into injury time.

The win sees the home side jump into the top six while the champions remain eight points off the top and their hopes of regaining the Gibson Cup dented.

Reds impress in second half

Linfield started on the front foot and almost struck inside the opening minute when Isaac Baird latched onto Fitzpatrick's header, but his half-volley was cleared by Leppard.

Cliftonville responded swiftly as Brian Healy cut in from the left on the counter-attack, yet his low effort was comfortably gathered by the well-positioned Chris Johns.

Healy later fashioned the Reds' best chance of the first half, racing onto a long ball over the top, but a heavy touch allowed the Blues to recover and clear the opportunity.

That let-off nearly proved costly midway through the half when Leppard's attempted clearance fell invitingly to Kirk Millar, who failed to hit the target from 20 yards.

Millar remained involved soon after, delivering to the back post for the late-arriving Ben Hall, but the defender could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle.

Linfield threatened again following a mix-up between PJ Morrison and Joe Toole, with Millar seizing possession before his cross towards Fitzpatrick was headed clear decisively by Leppard.

After the restart, Jim Magilton's men improved and went close when Micheal Glynn slipped a pass wide to Toole, whose cross located Liam McStravick at the back post, only for his side-foot effort to drift off target.

The pressure continued just beyond the hour as McStravick cut in from the flank and struck from distance, forcing the backpedalling Johns to tip the ball over the crossbar.

From the resulting corner, the home side made the breakthrough when Glynn picked out Leppard and the defender powered home a header for his second league goal of the season.

David Healy's men pushed for an equaliser late on, with substitutes Mulgrew and McKee going close, but it was all in vain as Gormley doubled the Reds' advantage with the last kick of the game, getting the final touch to Ryan Curran's low effort across goal.