Glentoran closed the gap on Sports Direct Premiership leaders Glentoran to three points after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Cliftonville.

The Glens had to weather an early storm from the hosts who spurned several good opportunities before Jordan Stewart fired the visitors in front on 37 minutes.

Pat Hoban’s 31st of the season doubled the lead three minutes before the break to put Glentoran in a commanding position.

But they had to work all the way for the win after Joe Gormley came off the bench to pull one back for the Reds on 62 minutes.

The home side continued to press for the equaliser but Glentoran stood firm to claim a crucial win in the title race.

Declan Devine made three changes to the starting from the previous game against Linfield 10 days ago.

Daniel Larmour, Josh Daniels, Jordan Stewart were all drafted in with Jack Malone dropping to the bench, while Marcus Kane and Ross Clarke missed out completely due to injury.

The visitors made a quick start with Ryan Cooney getting in round the back of the home defence on five minutes but Stewart failed to sort his feet out from the cutback and the chance was gone.

The Reds responded with Ryan Curran firing an effort narrowly wide of the goal two minutes later.

Danny Amos then produced a goal-saving tackle to deny Joe Toole as he was about to pull the trigger after weaving his way into the box.

The Glens had another let-off before the half hour when Toole exchanged passes with Liam McStravick before drilling a low ball across the face of goal which just narrowly evaded everyone.

Brian Healy then drilled an effort narrowly wide of the target as Cliftonville went close again on 36 minutes.

But within a minute Glentoran had their noses in front as Stewart latched onto a great pass from Daniels before slotting a low finish past PJ Morrison.

It got even better for the visitors on 42 minutes as Hoban got on the end of Cooney’s delivery to head back across goal and into the corner of the net.

The Glens started the second half in confident fashion but their lead was halved on 62 minutes as substitute Gormley nicked in at the back post to score after just coming onto the pitch.

Glentoran were twice denied by the woodwork as they went in search of the crucial third goal with both Singleton and Hoban having efforts strike the post in quick succession.

Cliftonville kept pushing for an equaliser with Shaun Leppard’s glancing header in additional time the closest they came to rescuing a point.

Cliftonville 1 – 2 Glentoran

Starting XI: Mills, Cooney, Palmer, Hoban, Stewart, Kamson-Kamara, Lamrour, Amos, Singleton, Daniels (Thomson), McEneff (Malone).

Subs: Crellin, Connolly, Burt, Gallagher, Jenkins,