Igor Rutkowski's fourth consecutive Premiership goal earned Ballymena United a 1-0 win away to Cliftonville. The victory at Solitude on Saturday gave Oran Kearney's side their first back-to-back league wins of the campaign, lifting them to 8th in the table with 12 points from nine games.
The game turned just before half-time when Cliftonville's Paul Stanfield was sent off on his full league debut, receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time. Ballymena capitalised on their numerical advantage after the break. In the 58th minute, the 22-year-old Rutkowski found the net for what proved to be the winner, his 16th league goal in 25 appearances for the club. Cliftonville, who have now lost four league games in a row, pressed for an equaliser late on. Goalkeeper David Walsh made a vital stop to deny Liam McStravick, and Brian Healy saw a chance cleared off the inside of the post by Kodi Lyons-Foster. In stoppage time, Healy collided with Walsh, but referee Steven Gregg awarded a goal kick, dismissing Cliftonville's penalty appeals.
Manager Oran Kearney was full of praise for his in-form striker. "He had a good half season when he first arrived," Kearney said. "To his credit, I think the biggest thing I'll give him this season is he has kicked on." The manager also highlighted Rutkowski's all-round development, describing him as a poacher with more than just goal-scoring ability, and noted that none of his goals this term have come from the penalty spot.
Despite the positive result, Kearney expressed some frustration with aspects of his team's performance, acknowledging that the group is still building relationships and understanding. The win extends Ballymena's recent form to two wins and two draws from their last five matches, a sequence you can review on our standings page. They now prepare for an away trip to face Limavady United on Saturday, 10 October.
For Cliftonville, manager David Healy lamented the red card incident and his team's current slump. "It's a sore one," Healy said. The Reds remain in 6th place in the Premiership standings.
This story first appeared at Belfast News Letter
