Cliftonville FC suffered a narrow 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat to Alvechurch at Solitude on Friday afternoon, despite Liam McStravick's equalising goal. The Reds, who finished fifth in last season's Premiership with 47 points from 33 games, looked set for a draw until Jack Kelly's injury-time winner.
What happened in the match?
Cliftonville started brightly with Rhyss Campbell and Brian Healy testing the visitors early. However, it was Alvechurch who took the lead in the second half through Miracle Okafor. McStravick, making his first appearance of pre-season, equalised with 11 minutes remaining after coming off the bench.
Why this friendly matters for Cliftonville
With the new Premiership season approaching, manager Barry Gray will be looking to fine-tune his squad. Cliftonville ended last season on a mixed run of form (LWWLL), and this friendly provided valuable minutes for returning players like McStravick.
What's next for the Reds?
Cliftonville's next pre-season fixture is yet to be announced, but they'll be aiming to build on this performance. Last season's final league position (5th) and goal difference (+1) show the team's potential, and fans will hope for a stronger challenge in the upcoming campaign.
