Anything less than a victory in this live TV game would have virtually handed the Gibson Cup to Linfield but a late winner from Michael Halliday made sure the Blues will have to wait until the last Saturday if they are to secure a third successive title.

Halliday struck on 84 minutes when he rose to send a powerful header beyond John Connolly after Paul Leeman had delivered the ball from the right.

There was despair amongst the home ranks, however, just three minutes prior to that when substitute 'keeper Michael Dougherty - on for the injured Elliott Morris - failed to claim a corner which duly ended up in the back of the net off the head of Kieran O'Connor.

That Cliftonville goal had cancelled out a spectacular Gary Hamilton opener just three minutes into the second half. With his back to goal he produced a stunning overhead kick from eight yards after a throw-in had been knocked on.