Seconds secure vital win over Cliftonville

DONAGHCLONEY Seconds played host to basement boys Cliftonville on Saturday past knowing that only a victory would suffice as they seek to secure survival in their debut season in Division Two Section Two.

Cliftonville won the toss and elected to ask Donaghcloney to bat on what looked to be a helpful track for bowlers. The decision seemed to be rectified as the home side lost early wickets with Richie Clydesdale, Richard Lyttle and Steven Lyttle all dismissed early in the innings.

Jim Warren was the mainstay of the innings, accumulating a well crafted 41 before falling while Matthew Lyttle posted a personal tally of 19 before he perished.

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The sixth wicket partnership between Brian Lyttle and Gareth Copeland enable the village team to post a respectable score. In total the partnership yielded 63 runs before both men fell in quick succession, Brian scoring 30 and Gareth adding 29.

In all the Cloney reached a respectable 174 when early signs had seemed ominous. Skipper Raymie Matthews was buoyed with his batsmen efforts and urged his bowlers to back up the performance after the tea interval and claimed a vital victory.

Matthews was not disappointed as the home attack of Stuart Copeland and Johnny Stevenson applied early pressure. It was Copeland who benefited as he claimed wickets at regular intervals to all but end the Cliftonville resistance.

Copeland bowled his allotted 10 over spell right through and claimed a senior career first five wicket haul for 33 runs.

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Matthew Lyttle who replaced Stevenson picked up 2-27 to leave the Cloney close to victory.

Matthews turned to experience of Brain Lyttle and himself to kill of the match. Lyttle took one wicket and Matthews 2-2, ending the Cliftonville innings on 94, a winning margin of 80 runs.

Matthews was delighted to gain his third victory this term. He commented, "The experience of Jim Warren, Brian Lyttle and Gareth Copeland shown through as they enabled us to reach a competitive total. Stuart Copeland has bowled well all season and at last he has got some reward for his perseverance in all we are starting to show depth in all departments of our game."

He declared, "This was a must and we did not disappoint. We now can take confidence in a bid to ensure our position with the next three games against Larne, sandwiched between home and away fixtures with Laurelvale."

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