The points were shared at Solitude as defences dominated in a scoreless draw.
Cliftonville started brightly and Rory Hale flashed a shot from distance narrowly past the far post in the opening minutes.
Former Cliftonville defender Levi Ives forced debutant goalkeeper PJ Morrison into a smart save moments later before Jamie Glackin passed up the best chance of the first half, failing to find the target following fine play by right winger Lewis McGregor.
Rhyss Campbell was forced off with an injury following a tussle with Charles Dunne just before the break and Jim Magilton’s woes were compounded moments after the restart when Luke Conlan was also forced off injured.
The introduction of Eric McWoods injected pace into the Reds’ attack and he presented Ryan Curran with the best chance of the game with 20 minutes remaining, but the striker steered his effort just the wrong side of the upright.
McWoods himself came close to breaking the deadlock in the closing minutes but his spectacular overhead effort lacked power and was comfortably dealt with by visiting goalkeeper Aidan Harris.
Declan McManus headed wide from a Ronan Doherty cross in the final minute of normal time but there was late drama to come.
Joe Gormley was waiting to pounce after a Jonny Addis long throw in made its way across goal but somehow Dean Jarvis, not long on the pitch, hooked the ball off the goal line to preserve a point for the visitors.
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