The Reds moved in front after just nine minutes when Ronan Scannell headed home a Liam Fleming cross but it proved to be a short lived lead when, three minutes later, Nathan McConnell turned the ball past John Connolly from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

However Cliftonville regained the advantage three minutes short of the break from the spot after Francis Murphy converted following a foul on Sean Cleary by Johnny Magee.

But the game took another twist on 48 minutes when the visitors levelled for a second time when Connolly failed to deal with a Ryan McCann free-kick.

The Whites were dealt a blow on 78 minutes when Wayne Buchanan was dismissed for a second bookable offence but, try as they might, Cliftonville failed to capitalise.