Loughgall were quick out of the blocks and almost caught the visitors cold when Rory Hale gifted possession to Scott McCann, and the playmaker picked out the run of Kirk McLaughlin, but the striker’s low shot was comfortably gathered by PJ Morrison.
Despite that early pressure, Cliftonville struck first when Adebayo Fapetu found Hawthorne on the edge of the area, and the midfielder clipped a composed finish into the far corner beyond a helpless Ross Glendinning.
The Villagers nearly responded within minutes as Paul McElroy showed quick feet to backheel into the path of Darragh Stewart, but with only Morrison to beat, the forward opted for power and blazed well over the bar.
The Reds doubled their advantage shortly after the half-hour mark when Leppard rose highest at the near post to guide Michael Glynn’s corner past substitute Berraat Turker for his second goal in successive games.
After the restart, Jim Magilton’s men pressed forward as Hale delivered a teasing cross to the back post, where Hawthorne connected from close range, but James Carroll was alert to hack the ball clear off the line.
Loughgall should have reduced the deficit when McCann robbed Josh Kelly and immediately fed McLaughlin, whose thunderous drive towards the near post cannoned back off the crossbar.
The visitors eventually made it three when Fapetu slipped a neat through ball into the path of McStravick, and although Turker pushed away the winger’s initial low effort, the winger reacted quickest to convert the rebound.
