Linfield Swifts recorded their first win in five outings in style on Monday evening as they secured a thrilled 6-3 victory over Cliftonville Olympic in the NIFL Development League at Midgley Park.
Michael Gault's side were boosted by the inclusion of first team regulars Ben Hall, Ethan Devine and Jordan Stewart, with the latter's quality clearly on show.
The home side got off to the perfect start as Noah Stewart broke the deadlock on four minutes, before netting his and Linfield's second in the 22nd minute.
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Liam McStravick, fresh from scoring his first Premiership goal at the weekend added a third against his former side four minutes later, coolly slotting home from close range after being teed up by Stewart.
Noah Stewart then completed his hat-trick on the half hour mark, converting from Stewart's low cross after a swift counter attack.
The Swifts continued to run riot and Stewart turned from provider to goal scorer when he blasted home an effort into the roof of the net on the stroke of half-time from what appeared to be an offside position.
The home side eased off in the second period, but were presented with a golden opportunity to extend their lead even further when Devine was brought down in the box and the referee awarded a penalty.
Substitute Arberi Karrabecaj stepped up and tucked away the resulting spot kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it six.
A young Cliftonville side refused to give up however, as a three minute hat-trick from Sean Neilan saw them half the deficit and make it a more respectable score line late in the game.
Neilan pulled one back on 88 minutes as he took a touch after being found in the area before burying an effort past the goalkeeper.
He slammed home a second straight down the middle from the spot just two minutes later after Linfield were penalised for a handball in the area.
His low effort then squirmed through the goalkeeper's hands two minutes later to make it 6-3, but the Reds mounted a comeback too late to try and rescue anything from the game.
The result meant that they slipped to a second successive defeat and lost further ground on the Blues, who are a place above them in the table.
The win halts Linfield own four game losing streak and boss Michael Gault was happy with his side's ruthlessness in front of goal.
"In football you need to keep pushing on and it's nice to get as many goals as possible. It is the Linfield way to keep on top of teams and not give them a chance because as you saw the last 15 minutes, Cliftonville pulled the goals back," said Linfield coach Gault.
"Thankfully we were well up in the game, the result was never really in doubt, but fair play to Cliftonville for coming at us and giving us something to think about for next week."
Gault did concede that whilst he was pleased to end their recent wretched run of form with a win, the end to the game soured the positivity of the result slightly.
"We are going away a wee bit disappointed. It is strange to say after four defeats on the bounce, you should be coming away buzzing with the victory, but we were disappointed with how it ended," he added.
"When you look at the three goals, they're poor goals to concede. It's something we need to learn from next week and hopefully it won't happen again."
The manager praised the contribution of the first team stars who did drop down to gain valuable game time.
"If you take a step back and look at the bigger picture we are delighted to get the three points and get a few key first teamers minutes in the legs coming up to a busy Christmas period," Gault said.
"It makes the job a lot easier for us as coaches when you have such brilliant first teamers there. They do the coaching on the pitch for you and guide the players through the game. Hopefully they pass on some advice to our young players."
Gault was also delighted with the performances of both Corai Quinn and Noah Stewart, believing the latter was the main beneficiary of Devine playing on Monday night.
"Corai and Noah has been with us for a good while now and are some of our more experienced players even though they're still so young," he said.
"I thought the two of them were super. Corai at right back didn't do too much wrong and was very competitive up and down the line, marshalling the back four well.
"Noah getting three goals was great. Obviously he has had a bit of a drought the last few weeks but as a striker to play 60 minutes and get three goals is good.
"He'd been playing up front by himself the last wee while but he had big Ethan up beside him so he was able to play off him. I thought he took his three goals well and his confidence will be flying now."
Elsewhere, leaders Crusaders Reserves maintained their impressive run of late with an eighth successive league victory after a routine 3-0 triumph over Coleraine Reserves at Seaview.
Sam Morrow put them in front on 23 minutes, with Jay Boyd doubling their advantage in the 51st minute.
Brandon Bradshaw then wrapped up the three points by adding a third on 69 minutes as Crusaders continue to hold a 12-point lead over second-place Linfield.
There were goals galore at Mourneview Park as Glenavon Reserves beat Glentoran II 5-3 to leapfrog the East Belfast side into fifth place in the table.
The home side raced into the lead after three minutes when Conor Scannell opened the scoring after good work from Aaron Prendergast.
Glentoran responded on 18 minutes with Bailey Locke converting from a corner.
Prendergast put the Lurgan Blues back in front on the stroke of half time, fashioning space for a shot and finishing into the far corner.
Cohen Henderson gave them a two goal advantage three minutes after the restart with a curling effort before Glentoran once again hit back as Casey Smyth slotted home after being played through on goal.
Prendergast then got his second and Glenavon's fourth just after the hour mark, tucking home from Bobby Harvey's cross.
Scannell netted his brace when he reacted well to finish in the box five minutes later, before Jude Johnson pulled a goal back for Glentoran on 85 minutes.
They were denied a fourth goal and the chance to set up a tense finale when Glenavon goalkeeper Marc Matthews saved a late spot kick to help his side clinch the win.
At the Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballymena Reserves came from behind to claim a narrow 3-2 victory over Portadown Reserves.
Tantale Don De Dieu converted a penalty on 16 minutes to put the Ports ahead, before Nathan Clarke equalised for Ballymena five minutes later.
Don De Dieu restored their advantage in the 28th minute, but Craig Farquhar hauled the Sky Blues level just before half time with Leon Graham scoring what proved to be the winning goal on 63 minutes.
The result moves Ballymena up to fourth in the table, just a point behind Cliftonville after a fourth straight win.
Meanwhile, Portadown are ninth and are winless in their last four games.
There was another dramatic encounter at the Loughview Leisure Arena as Dungannon Reserves scored a last minute winner to defeat Carrick Rangers Reserves 3-2.
Pearse O'Prey put Carrick in front in the 17th minute, and they doubled their lead two minutes before half time to take a comfortable lead into the break.
Yet, Dungannon would turn the game on its head to claim a second win in a row.
The prolific Padraig Lynch halved the deficit from the spot on 67 minutes, before an own goal from Bailey Hoy drew the visitors level in the 82nd minute.
Lynch then got his second of the game in the last minute to condemn Carrick to a second defeat on the spin.
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