Cliftonville send Mills out of cup

Cliftonville send Mills out of cup

1 October 2014

THE dismissal of goalkeeper Steven Keenan in the 55th minute handed Cliftonville an advantage they never looked back from.

Keenan raced outside his box to clear the danger with his hand after an error from Brendan Ward and in addition to a red card, the Mills wee stunned when the Reds converted the resultant free kick. A second goal late on gave Cliftonville a hard earned win.

In the opening exchanges the home side started brightly, Adam Neale made a good run and pulled the ball back for McConnell who shot over the crossbar.

McQuoid and McEvoy combined well for Stefan Mason to have a very good chance eight yards out, but his shot was straight at the ‘keeper. The home team were playing the better football and McEvoy felt confident enough to have a shot from 20 yards, but it was straight at the ‘keeper.

The Mills then had a let off when they conceded a free kick wide on the right. A good ball was floated across and the centre forward had a free header, but he sent it wide when he really should have scored.

As half-time approached the winger got to the line and rolled the ball along the six yard box and with the centre forward just about to score, Murdock put in a brilliant block to keep the game scoreless at the break.

Ten minutes after the restart disaster struck for the Mills when Ward completely misjudged a through ball and the centre forward was straight though.

Keenan came rushing out to meet him and handled the ball outside the area and received a straight red card. Rory Mason went into goal.

The Cliftonville centre forward then hit a fantastic free kick from 25 yards which struck the inside of the post and into the net to put the visitors ahead.

Ward was beaten again for pace, but this time the centre forward put his shot wide. Stefan Mason made a good run down the left wing and cut into the box where the left back made a rash challenge and the referee awarded a penalty.

McQuoid stepped up and saw his shot hit the post and rebound out. Rory Mason was forced into a good save and quickly set up Feenan with a long throw and he was unlucky when his shot just skimmed the crossbar.

The Cliftonville centre forward then beat the offside trap and raced through on Mason’s goal, but his shot hit the outside of the post and went wide.

The centre forward went through again, but this time he made no mistake and lobbed the ‘keeper to make the score 2 -0. Just at the end from a corner Morrison had a free header, but it was straight at the ‘keeper.

The Mills were out of the Steel and Sons and now head to local rivals Killyleagh ion the Irish Cup.

Drumaness Mills: S. Keenan, M. Savage, R. Mason, B. Ward, G. Murdock, D. McConnell, G. McEvoy, S. McQuoid, A. Neale, S. Rogan, O. Wright. Subs: A. McGrattan, C. Manley, G. Morrison, M. Feenan. 

Drumaness Mills 0

Cliftonville Olympic 2

STEEL & SONS CUP 4TH ROUND