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Cliftonville maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table after beating Ballinamallard at Ferney Park.

Marc Smyth volleyed low into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to give the Reds a sixth-minute lead.

Smyth met Martin Donnelly's corner with a header which went in off the underside of the bar after 22 minutes.

David Kee pulled one back with a fine left-foot free-kick on 58 but Stephen Garrett fired a low 25-yard shot into the bottom corner in the 73rd minute.

The league leaders began the game in lively fashion and when Donnelly's corner was flicked on, Smyth opened the scoring with a superb finish at the back post.

Liam Martin went close to equalising when his effort was only partially saved by Conor Devlin, and the ball almost squirmed over the line.

Smyth's second goal flew into the top left-hand corner past goalkeeper Alvin Rouse.

Donnelly went close before the break and after the interval, George McMullan fired inches wide.

Kee's second goal of the season gave Mallards hope and then Ryan Campbell was twice denied by outstanding saves by Devlin.

Campbell saw a drive well saved by the visiting stopper and a minute later Devlin tipped a left-foot effort over the bar.

A Mark Stafford header skimmed the bar before Garrett made the points safe for the Solitide side with a goal against the run of play.

Ballinamallard drop to sixth position in the table after a run of just two wins in their last nine league games.

The teams will meet again in the Irish Cup in January.