Release Date: Jan 07, 2013

CLIFTONVILLE roared back to form - and a six point gap at the top of the table - with this comprehensive defeat of Glentoran at Solitude.

It had all started so well for the Glens when, on 13 minutes, Andrew Waterworth took the ball down the right, past Ronan Scannell and crossed for the unmarked Stephen Carson to slot home from 12 yards.

Carson might have doubled Glentoran's advantage on the half-hour mark after he brought the ball to the right side of the area only to clip the crossbar from around 20 yards.

Liam Boyce did well six minutes later when he swivelled in the area to create an opening for a shot only for Elliott Morris to deal comfortably with the danger.

But the Cliftonville equaliser did arrive seven minutes after that when Carson botched a clearance allowing George McMullan to pounce.

And McMullan struck again four minutes into the second half with a left post header six yards out after Martin Donnelly had floated in a free-kick from the right side of the area.

Joe Gormley came close to adding a third for the Reds six minutes later after he burst into the left side of the area only to fire over whilst under pressure from a defender.

At the other end on 59 minutes Waterworth narrowly missed levelling for the visitors after he found his way past Jaimie McGovern only to send a shot against an upright.

However, the issue was put beyond doubt with ten minutes remaining after a Jay Magee short backpass let Boyce in to take the ball past Morris and into the unguarded net.

Substitute Tomas Cosgrove wrapped things up in style when he was allowed to creep in unnoticed to turn home a Stephen Garrett cross from the left.

Match statistics