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 Cliftonville came from a goal down to defeat Ballinamallard United at Solitude and move a point clear at the top of the table.

Getting off to a somewhat sluggish start there was little to report from the opening exchanges with a Joe Gormley eighth minute half volley and a Ryan Campbell header over the only bright moments.

Later in the half Raymond Foy saw a free-kick deflected away before David Kee headed a little too high.

However, most of the first half action was confined to the closing moments.

On 43 minutes the Mallards broke the deadlock when McCartney broke through the defence to get on the end of a long punt forward to lob Conor Devlin.

But, a minute into stoppage time, the Reds levelled when Martin Donnelly superbly executed a free-kick from some 25 yards into the corner of Stefan McCusker's net.

The Mallards were reduced to ten men on 57 minutes when Foy was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

And it got worse for Whitey Anderson's side seven minutes after that when Gormley touched Cliftonville in front from a Donnelly ball.

The Reds made sure of the points with 12 minutes to go when David McDaid beat the offside trap to finish confidently after the ball fell to him in the area.

Johnny Lafferty grabbed a late consolation for the visitors on 89 minutes with a back post volley.

Cliftonville: Devlin, McGovern, Flynn, Curran, McDaid, Donnelly, Seydak, Catney, Gormley, Winchester, Cosgrove subs Scannell (replaced Seydak 53), McMullan (not used), Garrett (replaced Curran 72), Knowles (replaced Winchester 81), Mulvenna (not used)

Ballinamallard United: McCusker, McMenamin, Stafford, Kee, Martin, McCartney, Currie, Foy, Campbell, Crilly, McLaughlin subs Murphy (not used), Dykes (not used), Hutchinson (replaced Currie 72), Elding (replaced Campbell 77), Lafferty (replaced Martin 64)

Referee: Damien Basketfield

Attendance: 1021