Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin believes Joe Gormley has “hit top form at the right time” as the title race enters squeaky bum time.
Gormley bagged a brace in Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at Portadown, a result that edged the Reds to within a point of leaders Linfield with five games left.
It took the 32-year-old’s tally for the season to 23, while it was also his SEVENTH goal in his last five outings in all competitions for the Solitude club.
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Gormley's recent haul includes a brace in the League Cup final, league goals against Glenavon, Dungannon and the Ports and the opener in Friday’s Irish Cup defeat to Crusaders.
“He’s called ‘Joe the Goal’ for a reason,” said McLaughlin. “He’s a phenomenal player with a phenomenal goal scoring record and he has hit top form at the right time of the season.
“Big games need big names to step up to the plate and there’s no bigger name in Irish League football than Joe Gormley.
“He’s proved that time after time, season after season and if he continues that form to the last kick of the season, you never know where it could take us.
“He was excellent in March and he has now started April in a rich vein of form, so we’re delighted that he’s fully fit and in top form.”
Gormley had to be patient at the turn of year when he was used primarily off the bench, but he has now started all of Cliftonville’s last three Premiership games.
“In many ways Joe has gone under the radar a bit because earlier in the season Ryan Curran was scoring the goals when Joe was carrying a couple of injuries,” said McLaughlin.
“But now Joe is up to 23 goals for the season. It’s an incredible return and hopefully there are plenty more goals in him in the run-in.
“Also Ryan and Paul (O’Neill). We’re at the real business end of the season and it’s important our front men keep scoring goals. It’s good if they’re all in good form.”
Gormley headed home in the first half and rifled home a second in the 73rd minute to propel Cliftonville to an invaluable three points at Shamrock Park.
It leaves the Reds breathing down Linfield’s neck ahead of Saturday’s top-two clash with the Blues at Solitude.
With five games left, it’s all to play for in the title race.
“Portadown had been on a good run of form and they carried a threat with big Adam Salley up front, so it was a good three points for us,” said McLaughlin.
“Now we head into the split for five massive games. They’ll be five difficult games, but it will be the same for all the other sides. We'll tick them off, starting on Saturday.”
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