Cliftonville vs Ballymena United: match statistics
Cliftonville displays significantly better home form with a 50% win rate and a positive goal difference (+5) at their stadium. The hosts have won 3 of their last 5 matches, scoring 6 goals, while Ballymena United is in an away crisis with as many as 69% defeats on the road and a negative goal difference of -10. The visitors have not won any of their last 8 away matches, confirming their poor form away from home. Cliftonville statistically dominates in possession (53% vs 44%), registers more shots on target (4.81 vs 2.69), and has a higher xG (1.56 vs 1.03). Ballymena fails to score in 38% of their away matches, which, given the hosts' solid defense (31% clean sheets), further supports a confident victory for Cliftonville. All key indicators clearly favor the hosts in this clash.
Cliftonville vs Ballymena United: form, goals and key statistics
Game details
Cliftonville played against Ballymena United in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The game was played on March 21, 2026. Final score: 2:2.
Recent form
Cliftonville has 3 wins, 0 draws and 2 losses over its last five games, averaging 1.80 points per game. Ballymena United has 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses, with 1.00 points per game.
Scoring records
Cliftonville scores 1.47 goals per game and allows 1.44. Ballymena United scores 1.16 and allows 1.50. Games in this league average 2.84 goals.
BTTS and goal totals
Both teams score in 56% of Cliftonville's games and 50% of Ballymena United's. The Over 2.5 rates are 56% and 44%, compared with league averages of 50% for BTTS and 54% for Over 2.5.
xG and shots
Cliftonville has the higher season xG average, 1.45 to 1.13 per game. Cliftonville takes 11.9 shots per game, while Ballymena United takes 8.6.
First-half and second-half trends
Cliftonville leads at halftime in 28% of its games and scores 0.91 goals per game after halftime. Ballymena United leads at halftime in 19% and scores 0.72 after halftime.
When the teams score
Cliftonville's most productive scoring window is minutes 76-90+ (14 goals). For Ballymena United, it is minutes 61-75 (11 goals). These are past scoring patterns, not predicted goal times.
League scoring profile
NIFL Premiership games average 2.84 goals. Both teams score in 50% of games, and 54% finish with at least three goals.
Head-to-head record
Before this game, 2 previous meetings were available. The record was 1 home win, 1 draw and 0 away wins. Those games averaged 4.50 goals, with both teams scoring in 100% of them.
Archived pre-match analysis
This analysis was prepared before kick-off. The conclusions use only information available before the match and do not include the final result or post-match statistics.
General match analysis
Cliftonville displays significantly better home form with a 50% win rate and a positive goal difference (+5) at their stadium. The hosts have won 3 of their last 5 matches, scoring 6 goals, while Ballymena United is in an away crisis with as many as 69% defeats on the road and a negative goal difference of -10. The visitors have not won any of their last 8 away matches, confirming their poor form away from home. Cliftonville statistically dominates in possession (53% vs 44%), registers more shots on target (4.81 vs 2.69), and has a higher xG (1.56 vs 1.03). Ballymena fails to score in 38% of their away matches, which, given the hosts' solid defense (31% clean sheets), further supports a confident victory for Cliftonville. All key indicators clearly favor the hosts in this clash.
View the statistical overviewStats by half
Game stats
Pre-game profile— what do the season numbers say?
This team profile combines season stats and recent form. In-game statistics appear after the final whistle.
Team stats— who is more efficient?
Compare both teams' attacking and defensive records this season.
Shooting quality
| Cliftonville | Ballymena United | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (shots on target) | 38% | 36% |
| Chance quality (xG per shot) | 0.12 | 0.13 |
| Finishing (goals per shot on target) | 0.33 | 0.38 |
xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.
* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.
Team form— who is in better shape?
Last five games and season record, overall, at home and away.
Cliftonville is 80% better for: last-5 form.
1.8 pts / game - Cliftonville · 1 pts / game - Ballymena United
Goals— how do both teams score and concede?
How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.
Cliftonville is 27% better for: goals scored per game.
1.47 goals / game - Cliftonville · 1.16 goals / game - Ballymena United
Cliftonville scores in 75% of games (24 of 32 meczów), while Ballymena United keeps a clean sheet in 19% (6 of 32 meczów).
Ballymena United scores in 69% of games (22 of 32 meczów), while Cliftonville keeps a clean sheet in 28% (9 of 32 meczów).
How often they score at least...
How often they concede at least...
* Statistics include both teams' home and away games this season.
Both teams scored (BTTS)— how often do both teams score?
How often games involving these teams produce goals at both ends, compared with the league average.
Goal patterns
BTTS and goal count
Goal count (Over/Under)— how often do these games cross the goal lines?
See how often games involving these teams clear each goal line, for the full game and each half.
Full game - team comparison (Over)
Over / Under - Cliftonville
Over / Under - Ballymena United
1st half
2nd half
Game halves— when do the teams score more often?
How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.
Cliftonville is 29% better for: first-half form (half-time points).
1.25 pts / game - Cliftonville · 0.97 pts / game - Ballymena United
Before half-time (1st half)
After half-time (2nd half)
Cliftonville - second-half results
Leads at halftime in 28% of games and wins 41%. Also wins some games without leading at halftime.
Allows 0.1 more goals per game after halftime, a sign that the defense becomes less effective later in games.
Ballymena United - second-half results
Leads at halftime in 19% of games and wins 28%. Also wins some games without leading at halftime.
Defense stays consistent across the full game.
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 1.20 | 1.80 |
| Goals scored / game | 0.2 | 0.8 |
| Goals allowed / game | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Average goals per game | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| 1 goal | 40% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 0% | 40% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 80% | 60% |
| No goal | 80% | 40% |
| Goal difference | 0 | +1 |
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 0.60 | 1.40 |
| Goals scored / game | 0.2 | 0.8 |
| Goals allowed / game | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Average goals per game | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| 1 goal | 60% | 60% |
| 2 goals | 40% | 60% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 20% |
| Clean sheet | 40% | 40% |
| No goal | 80% | 40% |
| Goal difference | -3 | +1 |
* Table colors show frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate and red is rare. They are not team ratings.
Goals by minute— when do goals arrive?
The parts of a game in which both teams score and allow the most goals.
Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (14 goals). Concedes most in 31-45 (10). Late-goal balance (76-90): +5 - wins late phases.
Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (11 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (14). Late-goal balance (76-90): -8 - late phases are a weakness.
* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.
Additional team indicators— what do xG, efficiency and form show?
A comparison of chance quality, results and trends from completed games this season.
Game profile
Cliftonville
Ballymena United
* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range use public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical game profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed games from the season.
League context— is this a high-scoring league?
How both teams compare with league-wide averages (NIFL Premiership).
Teams vs league
| Cliftonville | Liga | Ballymena United | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average goals per game | • 2.91 | 2.84 | ▼ 2.66 |
| Both teams scored | ▲ 56% | 50% | • 50% |
| Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) | ▲ 56% | 54% | ▼ 44% |
| Clean sheets | • 28% | 27% | ▼ 19% |
| Goal before half-time | ▼ 72% | 75% | ▲ 78% |
| Goal after half-time | ▼ 75% | 79% | ▲ 81% |
^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.
Lineups and player events
Verified starters, substitutes and recorded player events for this match.
Home team
Starting lineup
Away team
Starting lineup
Match timeline
Goals, cards and substitutions arranged in chronological order.
Referee and managers
Open their season profiles to compare match records, goals and disciplinary trends.
Referee context
See how often this referee shows cards, awards penalties and how their matches tend to finish.
Head-to-head
Record from Cliftonville's perspective: 1 win, 1 draw and 0 losses against Ballymena United. Games average 4.50 goals, and both teams scored in 100% of them.
FAQ
What was the result of Cliftonville vs Ballymena United?
The NIFL Premiership match finished Cliftonville 2:2 Ballymena United. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.
What is the head-to-head record between Cliftonville and Ballymena United?
In the last 2 head-to-head matches Cliftonville won 1, Ballymena United won 0 and 1 ended level. These games averaged 4.50 goals, with both teams scoring in 100% of them.
What do the goal statistics show before Cliftonville vs Ballymena United?
Cliftonville score 1.47 goals per game on average and Ballymena United 1.16. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.84 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 54% of games. Both teams score in 56% of Cliftonville's matches and 50% of Ballymena United's.
What form are Cliftonville and Ballymena United in?
Over the last 5 games Cliftonville have a 3-0-2 record (1.80 points per game) and Ballymena United 1-2-2 (1.00 points per game).
Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Cliftonville vs Ballymena United?
Here you can check the pre-match numbers for Cliftonville vs Ballymena United: form, H2H, goals and Over/Under. The pick itself, value and reasoning are published in the NoFluffPicks app.