Ballinamallard gave champions Cliftonville a scare, but the second half sending off of Raymond Foy proved pivotal. The midfielder was sent off with the score at 1-1, and the home side went on to win 3-2 and take the points.

Whitey Anderson opted not to change a winning team, sticking with the starting eleven that defeated Dungannon last week. Campbell played up front on his own with Liam Martin and Jason McCartney on the wings.

Both teams came into the game on a good run of form but the Mallards were working hard and restricting Cliftonville’s chances in the early stages. With just a minute gone Ryan Campbell, playing as a lone striker, saw his long range shot easily gathered by Conor Devlin. Apart from a dangerous cross that was cleared by McLoughlin, Cliftonville were struggling to trouble Stefan McCusker.

McCartney headed a Campbell cross over the bar and Foy, who had been booked earlier, had a free kick deflected into the arms of Devlin as Ballinamallard threatened on the break. Davy Kee fired a long range shot off target, and Campbell also had an effort from 20 yards saved.

On 38 minutes Ballinamallard took the lead. A long ball found McCartney just outside the penalty area and he lifted the ball over Devlin, who got fingertips on the ball but could not keep it out.

Just when it looked as though the visitors would take a lead into half time Ballinamallard gave away a free kick on the edge of the area, and Donnelly curled it past McCusker to level the scores.

Four minutes into the second half a good move between Currie and Martin set up a chance for Campbell but his shot was saved.

On 58 minutes the game was changed when Foy’s late challenge was punished with a second yellow card. It was one way traffic for much of the final 30 minutes, with Stefan McCusker producing a trio of great saves to deny Gormley. On 63 minutes Cliftonville took the lead when a Donnelly shot was deflected off Joe Gormley past McCusker. McDaid added a second with the Mallards protesting in vain for an offside flag. In the closing minutes Lafferty volleyed in at the far post to spark a late Ballinamallard flurry of pressure, but they could not find the equaliser their performance merited.