REDS EDGE IT AT THE SHOWGROUNDS
Cliftonville defeated Newry City by the odd goal in three at the Showgrounds.
The Reds had the ball in the net early on when David Parkhouse volleyed into the top corner from just outside the area but this was ruled out offside.
Newry came close midway through the first half after Noel Healy combined with John McGovern to tee Dale Montgomery up at the back post but his header was gathered by Nathan Gartside.
At the other end Ronan Hale fired just wide from distance while Newry had another opportunity when Olajumwon Adeyemo connected with a Philip Donnelly corner only to fail to capitalise on the opening.
Cliftonville came closest midway through the second half when Joe Gormley nodded against the woodwork after Chris Curran had delivered the cross.
But the deadlock was finally broken with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining when Ryan Curran knocked on a another Chris Curran ball for Ronan Hale to finish into the bottom corner.
Newry levelled just three minutes later through Donal Scullion after the ball fell for him when it came off Adeyemo on the line.
However, Cliftonville had the last laugh with nine minutes remaining after Gormley headed a long ball into the path of Ryan Curran who responded by smashing it past Maguire from around 12 yards.
Newry City: Maguire, King, N. Healy, McGivern, Lockhart, McGovern, B. Healy, Donnelly, Scullion, Montgomery, Adeyemo subs Halpenny, Carville, Teelan, Martin, Lusty, McNamee, Rendina
Cliftonville: Gartside, Gallagher, C. Curran, Rory Hale, R.Curran, Parkhouse, McDonagh, Traynor, Casey, Turner, Ronan Hale subs Donnelly, Addis, Robinson, Doherty, Rocks, Gormley, Coates
Substitution 
Substitution 
