It has been almost five years since Dungannon Swifts last beat Cliftonville, but the wait for that elusive victory will drag on a little bit longer.
The latest setback came in North Belfast at the weekend as two goals from Liam Boyce helped the Reds return to the top of the table with this emphatic win.
Sometimes the final score doesn’t tell the full story of a match, but this was not one of those days.
Cliftonville outplayed Dungannon from start to finish and, with a bit more accuracy in front of goal, could have won by an even greater margin.
For Darren Murphy and Rodney McAree it was a hugely frustrating and disappointing afternoon, just a week after a terrific draw against Linfield.
The only player to emerge with any credit is goalkeeper Niall Morgan, who made several crucial saves to prevent this defeat turning into a rout.
Otherwise it was a jaded, lethargic performance which was never going to be good enough against an impressive, enterprising Cliftonville side.
Once Boyce scored the Reds’ second just before half-time, adding to Joe Gormley’s early strike, there appeared no way back for Dungannon.
Boyce made it 3-0 with a superb solo effort before Martin Donnelly added a fourth.
The goal of the game came from a Dungannon player, Stephen O’Neill, but it was no more than a consolation with their fate already sealed.
So Swifts’ winless run against Cliftonville now stands at a depressing 15 matches, stretching all the way back to early 2008.
It was always going to be a tall order to break that sequence on Saturday, and especially when Gormley gave the home side an early lead.
Some impressive interplay saw George McMullan feed Ciaran Caldwell and, although the goalkeeper got a touch to his strike, Gormley was free to tap home at the back post.
It followed a bright start from the Reds. Inside the first minute Morgan had to make a smart double-save to thwart Boyce and Gormley in quick succession.
Dungannon’s first foray forward came via Michael McKerr, who broke down the right wing before supplying a low cross which rebounded off the outside of the post.
Their best chance came when a back pass from Jamie McGovern fell short, but the ‘keeper was quickly off his line to prevent McKerr taking advantage.
That aside, Cliftonville’s front two continued to threaten the visitors’ goal.
A clever pass from midfield sent Gormley through but Morgan blocked with his feet, then Boyce headed wide from Jody Lynch’s corner.
It seemed only a matter of time before they scored again, and it came in the 41st minute.
Just like the opening goal, it followed some neat passing. Caldwell found Gormley, and he unselfishly squared for Boyce to convert.
Late in the half Gormley outmuscled Johnny Montgomery, only to shoot narrowly wide.
Unfortunately for Dungannon, the second half followed a similar pattern. Lynch and Gormley went close before Morgan made a brilliant fingertip save to direct Barry Holland’s header over.
However, he was helpless to prevent Cliftonville’s third. An error from Adam McMinn allowed Boyce through, and he skipped past two defenders before firing home.
Dungannon substitute Sean Friars drew a save from the ‘keeper, before Donnelly completed the rout when he converted George McMullan’s cross.
The only positive for Swifts, apart from the final whistle, was O’Neill’s goal. He took a touch before firing home on the half-volley, but it mattered little.
CLIFTONVILLE: Devlin, McGovern, R Scannell, Johnston (Knowles, 70), Holland, Caldwell (Garrett, 79), McMullan, Smyth, Gormley, Lynch (Donnelly, 63), Boyce
Subs not used: O’Carroll, Cosgrove
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, R O’Neill, McMinn, Montgomery (Cahoon, 70), E Friars, McKerr, Harpur, Hutchinson, C Lavery (S Friars, 67), S O’Neill, Gawley (Topley, 70)
Subs not used: Brennan, Murphy
Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)