Glentoran Seconds moved to within touching distance of the NIFL Premiership Development League title with a commanding 7–2 victory over Cliftonville Olympic at Solitude on Monday night.

The league leaders, who began the evening six points clear of Linfield Swifts on 73 points, delivered a ruthless attacking performance to leave themselves needing just a single point from their final two fixtures to secure the championship.

With last season’s top goalscorer Jordan Jenkins leading the line and captain Ciaran Rogers-Duffy once again marshalling the side, the Glens named a strong and attack-minded XI, with Cal Weatherup and James McClure joining Jenkins in a potent front three.

The visitors made the perfect start, breaking the deadlock inside the opening minute. Daniel Beatty won possession high up the pitch and fed McClure, who intelligently teed up Jenkins to fire home from close range.

Glentoran dominated the early stages and could have put the game beyond doubt inside the opening 20 minutes, with McClure twice going close and Weatherup striking the crossbar as the pressure mounted on the hosts.

A second goal duly arrived when Cillian McCann delivered into the box and Jenkins showed excellent awareness to cushion the ball into McClure’s path, with the forward drilling home to double the advantage.

Cliftonville briefly reduced the deficit against the run of play following a lapse in concentration from the Glens, but the visitors quickly reasserted control. A defensive mix-up from the hosts resulted in an own goal to restore the two-goal cushion before another reply from Cliftonville made it 3–2 heading into the latter stages.

Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished by a clinical Glentoran finish to the game.
Charlie Heron’s inviting delivery was met by Jenkins, who powered home a header to make it 4–2, before Rogers-Duffy rose highest from a Reece Bell corner to extend the lead further.

Beatty was again influential as his driving run and cross created the sixth, with McClure connecting sweetly on the half-volley to find the net.

Substitutes then combined to complete the scoring, as Zak Magowan’s cutback was emphatically finished by Rory Magee to cap a dominant display.

The result sees Glentoran Seconds edge ever closer to the league title, requiring just one point from their remaining matches to be crowned champions.

Full-Time: Cliftonville Olympic 2–7 Glentoran Seconds

Starting XI: Beimers (GK), McCann, Hardy, Rogers-Duffy (C), O’Neill, Heron, Bell, Beatty, McClure, Weatherup, Jenkins.

Substitutes: Watt (GK), Irvine, Nelson, Dolan, Magee, Magowan.