The visitors moved in front after just six minutes after Stephen Hyndes unleashed a stunning 25-yard drive into the top corner of John Connolly's goal.

And they might have doubled their advantage not long after when they were denied a penalty after Reds defender Barry Johnston appeared to handle the ball to prevent a Shane Coney attack.

However Cliftonville managed to drag themselves back into the game on 29 minutes through a David McAlinden free-kick which gave Stuart Addis no chance as it headed for the corner.

Then, a minute from the break, Ronan Scannell edged Eddie Patterson's side in front after bringing the ball in from the left.

Francis Murphy should have done better in the second half when he fired a Chris Scannell effort over while Kieran O'Connor had a header blocked at close range by Addis while for City Hyndes came closest on 83 minutes with an piledriver similar to his first half opener.