In A scoreless first half both sides had numerous opportunities to gain the advantage.

For Cliftonville John O'Loughlin fired narrowly over while both Ronan and Chris Scannell went close on occasion.

But the chance of the game up to that point, however, was a Ciaran Donaghy header just before the break which was pushed over by Cliftonville keeper John Connolly.

And the Reds squandered a glorious opportunity on 62 minutes when Liam Fleming failed to convert a penalty awarded when Declan Brown upended Mark Holland while Chris Scannell failed to turn home the follow-up.