Eddie Patterson's Cliftonville are still unbeaten this season

John O'Loughlin put the Reds ahead in the fourth minute and Mark Holland added a second on 35 after a mistake by Whites goalkeeper Philip Matthews.

Matthews partially redeemed himself by making great saves to deny Holland again and Chris Scannell.

Conor Hagan pulled a goal back for the Whites from a penalty on 48 but Chris Scannell hit the Reds' third on 63.

Cliftonville didn't take long to assert their control with O'Loughlin nodding home from inside the six-yard box after a Ronan Scannell cross.

Matthews made a fine save to deny Holland in the 27th minute but the Distillery goalkeeper was at fault for the Reds' second goal eight minutes later when he dropped a free-kick which enabled Holland to hammer home.

Distillery's only first half chance fell to Ryan Catney who fired over in the 37th minute.

Before half-time, Matthews did well to stop a Chris Scannell header.

The visitors got back into the game when Conor Hagan was successful from the penalty spot three minutes into the second half after he had been felled by Chris Scannell.

However, Scannell made up for conceding the penalty when he headed George McMullan's cross past Matthews in the 63rd minute.

Tempers flared alarmingly in the 82nd minute with most of the players on the field getting involved in an unseemly melee although it wasn't clear what had sparkes the scenes.

After order had been restored, Distillery's Darren Armour was given a yellow card.

Chris Scannell missed a late chance for Cliftonville but it mattered little.