Town started their three-game tour of Belfast with a 7-0 hammering of a very poor Cliftonville side. Gary Roberts opened the scoring, then Alan Lee and Danny Haynes netted before the break with Jaime Peters, Alan Quinn (2) and David Wright completing the scoring.

Peters, as at Brentford on Friday used in a right-back role, sent in an eighth minute cross which Roberts volleyed into the home side's net.

The second goal came on 18 with Roberts, probably the Blues' best player during the first half, crossing from the left and Alan Lee, wearing the captain's armband, heading home.

Danny Haynes, a scorer against Brentford on Friday, added a third, taking the ball to the byline then shooting from what seemed an impossible angle, the ball hitting the post and crossing the line.

Just before the break, the Blues ought to have gone even further in front when Jordan Rhodes was fouled inside the area. The youngster took the spotkick himself, but like Haynes at Griffin Park saw his effort saved by the keeper. On this occasion, however, the rebound failed to fall for the penalty taker.

Rhodes, whose penalty may have been hampered by the very long grass on the Solitude pitch, really ought to have had his name on the scoresheet by then, the Cliftonville keeper pulling of three saves from the 18-year-old, who also had an attempt cleared from the line by a defender.

Town, who had striker Jon Walters watching from the stand, made several changes at the break, only Danny Haynes, Jaime Peters and Shane Supple remaining on the field from the side which started the match.

Cliftonville had the ball in the net in the 49th minute but the strike was ruled out for offside.

On 52 Jaime Peters hit the cross bar with a header after being found unmarked in the box from a corner.

Four minutes later, the Canadian added the Blues' fourth after a one-two with Pablo Couñago. Peters made way for Richard Naylor soon after as the club's longest-serving player took his place in a back three with Alex Bruce and Pim Balkestein.

The Blues went five in front in the 68th minute when a flowing move ended with Couñago finding Miller on the edge of the area, the midfielder hitting the bar with a shot which Quinn followed up for his first of the night.

The Irish international's second came with six minutes left on the clock, Garvan playing him in on goal and the ex-Sheffield United man slotting home.

Town's seventh came three minutes later from a move which started by one of the Blues' own corner flags and involving several players including Quinn. Eventually, Garvan found David Wright, the full-back finishing with coolly.

Jim Magilton's side could easily have reached double figures against a dismally poor Cliftonville, who may have had more than an eye on Thursday's UEFA Cup tie with FC Copenhagen.

Town dominated throughout and it was difficult for trialist Ben Thatcher to do anything more than pass the ball quietly and efficiently from his largely unthreatened left-back role.

The Blues are likely to face a similar stroll in the park on Thursday when they take on Donegal Celtic, a side from a division below Cliftonville and Saturday's opponents Glentoran.

Town: Supple, Peters (Naylor 62), Thatcher (Wright 46), Sumulikoski (Quinn 46), McAuley (Bruce 46), Smith (Balkestein 46), Haynes (Rhodes 69), Trotter (Garvan 46), Lee (Couñago 46), Rhodes (Miller 46). Roberts (Casement 46).

Photo: Action Images

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