Glentoran moved third in the JJB Sports Premiership with this victory at a wet and windy Solitude on Monday night.
Reds winger Francis Murphy sent a curling effort just wide before Michael Halliday wasted a good Glens chance.
Cliftonville's Stephen O'Neill put a close-range header wide and seconds later Shane McCabe struck a superb 20-yard shot into the top corner.
Colin Nixon made it 2-0 from a penalty on 84 minutes after Andrew Waterworth was brought down by John Connolly.
George McMullan blasted over after a good Cliftonville counter-attack in the 39th minute.
Glens striker Gary Hamilton brought a scrappy first half to end when he poked wide from the edge of the box.
The visitors were forced into a goalkeeping change at the break with James Taylor coming on for his debut in place of the injured Elliott Morris.
Taylor was quickly into the action with a good save from Ronan Scannell's long-range free-kick.
It was all about finishing with O'Neill missing from Chris Scannell's cut-back before McCabe finished with aplomb.
McMullan was denied after 71 minutes when his blistering goalbound shot was kept out by a brave headed block from Jason Hill.
Waterworth pounced on a Declan O'Hara error and the substitute fell to the floor after Connolly raced out of goal.
The spot-kick was awarded by referee Davy Malcolm and Nixon sent Connolly the wrong way to double the lead and seal a win which leaves the Glens just a point behind leaders Linfield and Crusaders.
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