Stephen Carson opened the scoring for the Bannsiders on 36 minutes with a well executed low drive which left Reds 'keeper John Connolly helpless.

Cliftonville almost responded early in the second half through both Francis Murphy and Chris Scannell but were denied on each occasion by the impressive Davy O'Hare.

Coleraine doubled their lead on 73 minutes when Connolly failed to pick up on a Carson cross allowing substitute John Watt the chance to nod the ball into an unguarded net.

The Reds did pull one back five minutes later via Barry Johnston who beat O'Hare with a sublime volley to set up a grandstand finish but despite Murphy and Ryan Catney going close in the final minutes Eddie Patterson's side failed to salvage a point.