Down Memory Lane

Boyce struck twice in the contest — the second a sensational first-time volley which rocketed into the top corner following Gareth Tommons’ inch-perfect delivery — to give the Bannsiders a huge advantage ahead of the return leg next Tuesday.

“Darren was voted second in the Football Writers’ Player of the Month list for October, then third for November and I’m delighted to see he’s started December so well,” said Platt.

“He’s also a pretty good shout to win the Goal of the Month competition too.”

Cliftonville will wonder how their involvement in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup is left hanging by a thread after such a bright opening to the game.

Their dominance was rewarded when Chris Scannell raced onto George McMullan’s througball to knock past Davy O’Hare and hand the Reds a seventh minute lead.

They continued to boss possession for the majority of the opening half but were pegged back when Boyce demonstrated his predatory instincts to lash home from Tommons’ 30th minute chest-down.

And Boyce might have made it 2-1 almost immediately when he weaved his way through a host of challenges on the edge of the Cliftonville box only to lift his shot against the crossbar.

The game by now having truly sparked into action, home supporters’ celebrations were halted when O’Hare somehow managed to get a strong right hand on Ryan Catney’s deflected shot just when the ball looked certain to squirm into the bottom corner, while Kieran O’Connor was unlucky with an attempt which whistled across the face of goal before the half ended with Boyce just inches away from making a connection with Tommons’ fierce cross.

The Bannsiders were much improved after the interval and took the lead just past the hour when Tommons rose unchallenged to nod home from Stephen Carson’s free-kick delivery.

Francis Murphy went close to levelling with a strike from distance following an error from Coleraine defender Marc Mukendi and, just 60 seconds later, the visitors were 3-1 in front.

Declan O’Hara’s attempted clearance looped high into the air and Tommons touch a took before clipping the ball across goal for Boyce to thunder home in exquisite fashion.

McMullan ensured there was still life left in Cliftonville’s challenge with a fine 25-yard free-kick, but there’s no question it’s the Bannsiders in the driving seat at the halfway stage in the tie.