The Reds moved in front on 11 minutes through Kieran O'Connor who collected the ball 18 yards from goal to send a well delivered volley into the net.

Mark Patton almost levelled just a couple of minutes later, though, only for his chip to come back off the post with John Connolly stranded.

But O'Connor doubled Cliftonville's lead four minutes from the break when he pounced on the loose ball after Philip Matthews had fumbled a George McMullan effort.

Liam Boyce might have added another five minutes into the second with a left-foot effort which Chris Scannell sent the ball wide whilst attempting to lob the advancing Matthews.