Refereeing hasn’t changed since I was last in Premiership, fumes Newry City boss Barry Gray

Barry Gray was less than impressed with Evan Boyce's contribution to Newry City's clash with Cliftonville

Adam Salley is congratulated after putting Newry in front

Ciaran O'Connor reacts to being sent off by referee Evan Boyce

Jonny Addis pounces for Cliftonville's late winner

Jonny Addis races towards a delirious Cliftonville support after his injury-time strike

Newry City boss Barry Gray raged with the officials after seeing his 10-man team undone by a heartbreaking Cliftonville winner deep into injury-time.

Ahead through Adam Salley’s early header, the hosts had Ciaran O’Connor sent off for a foul on Rory Hale just before half-time.

The second period was barely a minute old before Jonny Addis levelled with a long-range blast ahead of the defender popping up with a 97th minute strike to seal the Reds’ comeback.

Adam Salley is congratulated after putting Newry in front

An enraged Gray — taking charge of his first Premiership game since replacing Gary Boyle in The Showgrounds dug out — was unhappy with referee Evan Boyce’s decision to dismiss O’Connor, his adding of six minutes stoppage time at the end of the game, and his call to let play continue after the initial allocation had expired.

“I think the officials got what they wanted tonight, which was a Cliftonville win,” he fumed.

“I’m happy to say if I’m wrong, but I don’t agree with the red card. The fourth official and the linesman both called it, and it was right in front of me, I couldn’t have had a better view of it. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong, but I don’t agree with that decision. And I don’t know for the life of me where the six minutes of overtime came from in the second-half — let’s just keep it rolling the best way that we can, so that Cliftonville can have the