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Cliftonville remain four points off the Premiership pace after this deserved victory over fading Glenavon.

The Reds completely dominated the first half with Liam Boyce missing a glorious chance and Martin Donnelly and Ryan Catney also spurning opportunities.

But Boyce put the champions ahead on 25 with Joe Gormley doubling the advantage on 62 and Glenavon's Eddie McCallion sent off for his post-goal protests.

Ciaran Martyn pulled a goal back on 83 but the Reds held on for the victory.

Cliftonville, after their recent resurgence, started the game with purpose as Donnelly fired straight at Glenavon keeper Andy Coleman when a goal seemed on the cards.

With the champions continuing their fluent approach work, Cartney and Gormley fired wide before Boyce missed an absolute sitter after Coleman had failed to hold a Gormley shot.

But such was Cliftonville's total dominance, the goal had to come and it did on 25 minutes as Boyce stabbed home from close range after Coleman had bravely stopped another Gormley effort.

Glenavon did improve in the 15 minutes after half-time as Guy Bates fired over and Reds keeper Conor Devlin having to move smartly to turn a Kyle Neill shot out for a corner.

However, the second Cliftonville goal came on 62 minutes after poor Glenavon defending allowed Donnelly to set up Gormley who poked home after ghosting past two attempted challenges.

Glenavon skipper McCallion was red carded immediately after the goal after apparently protesting that the ball had been run out of play in the build-up to Gormley's goal.

Martyn's goal on 83 gave Glenavon a sniff of snatching an unlikely point but Cliftonville held on for a fully-deserved victory.

The win keeps Cliftonville in third place, four points behind Crusaders and Linfield, while Glenavon remain sixth despite the defeat.