Cliftonville produced a battling performance but ultimately fell to a narrow defeat to DAC 1904 in their Europa Conference League tie in Slovakia.

The hosts started brightly, creating early chances through Rego Szantho and Dominik Kruzliak before taking the lead on 25 minutes when Szantho created some space on the right before cutting in to send a left-foot effort beyond Reds keeper Fynn Talley into the far corner.

It was a short lived lead, however, after Cliftonville levelled barely three minutes later when Ronan Hale connected with Jamie McDonagh's cross to knock the ball home at the back post.

DAC regained the advantage just after the hour mark through Nikola Krstovic, a Montenegrin full international, with a first time effort from Dominik Veselovsky's low cross.

They finished the game with ten men following substitute Brahim Moumou's dismissal for an 82nd minute reckless challenge on Chris Curran.

The sides meet again in the return leg at Solitude next Thursday (14th), kick-off 8pm.

DAC 1904: Veszelinov, Dimun, Mateus Brunetti, Andzouana, Veselovsky, Kruzliak, Blackman, Davis, Krstovic, Kacer, Szantho subs Trnovsky (not used), Petras (not used), Muhamedbegovic (not used), Balogh (replaced Andzouana 62), Hahn (replaced Szantho 61), Andrezinho (not used), Ciganiks (replaced Krstovic 87), Njie (not used), Moumou (replaced Veselovsky 71), Nebyla (not used), Alex Pinto (not used), Nicolaescu (not used)

Cliftonville: Talley, Ives, Addis, Gallagher, R. Curran, McDonagh, Lowe, Doherty, Turner, Rn. Hale, Mallon subs McKenna (not used), C. Curran (replaced Lowe 72), Rr. Hale (replaced Mallon 71), O'Neill (not used), Robinson (not used), Gormley (replaced R. Curran 86), Storey (not used), Casey (not used), Coates (not used)