The game got off to the perfect start for the Gers as 18-year-old Caleb Hawthorne scored from a few yards out to give Carrick the lead.
A debut goal for Hawthorne, setting the home side off inside 10 minutes.
However that lead didn’t last long. Four minutes later Kyle McClelland scored from a corner to give Cliftonville an equaliser.
At 1-1 the game remained fairly even with both sides creating chances to go and find the next goal in the game.
It was Cliftonville who then did find the next goal. Ben Quinn found space down the right side and from a tight angle was able to find a way past Nathan Gartside on 35 minutes.
After the break Carrick came out applying constant pressure to find a second goal to equalise.
Chances weren’t hard to come by in the second half. Danny Gibson forced the ball in from a yard out, but the assistant referee was quick to raise the offside flag.
Another huge chance came the way of Aidan Steele from a Jordan Forsythe long throw in. However the shot from a few yards out was sent flying over the crossbar.
Soon after, Steele’s cross from a free kick found the head of Jordan Forsythe whose effort was wide of the left post.
Into added time, Cliftonville were awarded a free kick from 25 yards after Kyle Cherry brought down Rhys Campbell.
Dean McMaster stepped up and found the net to seal the victory for Cliftonville.
A third defeat of the season sends the Gers into a tough trip to Ballymena on Tuesday night in an unstable run of form.
