Kyle Neill got the Glens off to a perfect start when, on four minutes, he rose highest to head the ball past John Connolly from a Jamie McGovern throw-in.

But Cliftonville were back on level terms just four minutes later through Chris Scannell when a mistake by 'keeper Johnny Taylor allowed him to send an unchallenged left-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Both sides could have led at the break with chances from George McMullan and Richard Clarke respectively while, in the second half, Ciaran Caldwell produced the best in Taylor.

However, the winner came with eight minutes remaining when substitute Michael Halliday won the ball before laying it off for Andrew Waterworth to drive beyond Connolly.

Waterworth's delight was tempered almost immediately, though, when his celebrations earned him a second yellow card and with it dismissal.