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Joe Gormley scored a quick-fire hat-trick as Cliftonville moved above Portadown into third place in the Premiership by trouncing Institute.

Martin Donnelly drilled home the opener in the 25th minute and Gormley grabbed his first with a wonder strike from the right side of the box after 31 minutes.

The striker fired home in his second a minute later and completed his treble with a penalty in the 37th minute.

Jay Donnelly found the net after 52 and Dean Curry scored for Institute on 78.

Martin Donnelly curled in the opening goal against the run of play after latching onto a long ball out of defence.

Gormley's sublime effort extended the lead and the ex-Crumlin Star forward shot in at the back post for 3-0, before making it a hat-trick with a penalty after Johnny McMurray had been brought down by Marty Gallagher.

Jay Donnelly met Martin Donnelly's corner with a bullet-like header seven minutes after the interval as the home side condemned the basement side to their ninth defeat in 10 league games.

Gormley had several chances to add to his tally in the second half but he toe-poked an attempt past the post, failed to convert when one-on-one with Gallagher and struck the woodwork after lobbing the goalkeeper.

Curry grabbed a consolation with a header but Paul Kee's side are now five points adrift at the bottom of the standings.