Wee Reds hit Woodlands for six at Dixon Park

Woodlands were their latest victims when they were thrashed 6-0 at Dixon Park in a Ballymena Junior Division 1 fixture on Saturday.

In eight outings Stephen Hughes’ young guns have amassed no fewer than 37 goals and already they are seven points clear at the top in their quest for a fourth consecutive title.

Hughes was forced to make changes with Mark Conn moving forward to partner Rhys Clelland in attack, while Johnny McClurg from the senior side was given match time in midfield.

The Comrades went ahead when a Woodlands defender sliced the ball past his own keeper and immediately McClurg doubled the lead with a glancing header from a Conn corner.

On the half-hour Clelland opened his account when he drilled the ball in to the bottom corner after Jamie McTaggart had done the spadework.

Just before the break full back CJ McIlwaine’s sixty-yard overlap resulted in Craig Todd tapping home from close in.

The rampant Reds continued to dominate, but the Carrick lads adopted damage limitation tactics to limit the hosts to two more goals.

McClurg got the first from a Ross Clarke pass and four minutes from time Clelland doubled his tally.

“Three points and a clean sheet was a good afternoon’s work,” summed up Hughes.

Comrades Reserves: Nicholl: CJ McIlwaine (C), McAllister, Davidson, A Hill; Crowe, Todd, McClurg, McTaggart; Clelland, Conn. Subs: Thompson, Clarke, McAuley.