Cliftonville 2, Ballymena United 1

Glenn Ferguson’s side has now won just one of its last 10 league games and Ards’ surprise win against Coleraine has also hauled the Sky Blues closer to the relegation placings.

Ballymena produced a spirited display against the league champions but once again a failure to convert clear-cut chances proved costly.

Ferguson opted to make just one change from the previous week’s home defeat by Glentoran, with Gary Thompson coming in for Mark McCullagh, with Tony Kane reverting back to his familair right-back role.

United survived an early let-off when Martin Donnelly cleverly played the ball around defender Johnny Taylor to release Liam Boyce but the normally lethal striker fired wide of Stuart Addis’ near post.

Ballymena responded as Cliftonville’s on-loan Celtic defender Paddy McNally scuffed his clearance inside his own penalty area and Gary Thompson released Allan Jenkins, whose low shot was turned behind for a corner by Conor Devlin.

The Reds took the lead on 16 minutes when Stephen Garrett picked up a loose ball on the right, cut inside Michael Ruddy and fired a low shot past Stuart Addis.

Ballymena began to find a way into the game and Gary Thompson’s dipping shot on the half hour was saved by Devlin who recovered to gather as David Cushley slid in.

Cushley then played in Mark Surgenor whose shot, although well-struck, was straight at Devlin, while Cushley himself fired an effort into the Reds keeper’s chest.

But the wideman wasn’t to be denied a minute before half-time when he collected a pass from Gary Thompson and he fired a crisp low shot beyond Devlin into the bottom corner.

But the league champions hit back at the start of the second half as within three minutes of the restart, Garrett played in Boyce who drilled a low shot through the legs of Addis.

Gary Thompson was just off target with a long-range shot for Ballymena, while Tony Kane headed off his own goal-line from a Boyce header.

As the game went into something of a lull, Jenkins turned and fired off target for United, while Boyce’s drive from the edge of the area went just over.

Ballymena missed a glorious opportunity with three minutes left when Cushley played in Jenkins but as the Scot bore down on goal, Devlin advanced quickly off his line to make a crucial block.

And Jenkins was involved in more late drama as Mark Surgenor drove the ball across the face of goal in stoppage time but the skipper’s flying header from close-range flashed wide.

Cliftonville: Devlin, McMullan, McGovern, McNally, R Scannell (sub Seydak 75), Garrett, Johnston, Catney, Donnelly (sub Doherty 90+3), Gormley (sub O’Carroll 74), Boyce. Subs (not used): C Scannell, Murray.

Ballymena United: Addis, Kane, Munster (sub Dolan 88), Taylor, Ruddy, Thompson (sub Liggett 89), Taggart, Surgenor, Teggart (sub McLellan 69), Jenkins, Cushley. Subs (not used): Stewart, McCullagh

Referee: Raymond Hetheringtn (Dungannon).