Sports Direct Premiership
Crusaders 2 Cliftonville 1
CRUSADERS substitute Stewart Nixon was the toast of Seaview as he came off the bench to win the north Belfast derby against neighbours Cliftonville.
Jordan Forsythe opened the scoring for the hosts after 18 minutes but his stabbed effort was cancelled out by a predatory Joe Gormley finish six minutes into the second half.
Both sides had plenty of chances to score more goals in an entertaining encounter, but Nixon’s volleyed finish on 66 minutes was enough to give the Crues all three points and the bragging rights.
Cliftonville boss Jim Magilton will be be perturbed by his team’s form since beating Larne in the Irish Cup semi-finals, losing three games and drawing one, while Crusaders hold on to fourth spot in the Sports Direct Premiership.
David Odumosu was one of six changes Magilton made to his starting 11 after conceding eight goals against Larne on Saturday, Nathan Gartside making his first start since November of last year.
Stephen Baxter started Paul Heatley ahead of Jude Winchester but the latter was soon called upon when defender Billy Joe Burns broke down and was replaced after just eight minutes.
Rory Hale has the first chance to score in this very open derby, but pulled his shot wide of the mark on 15 minutes when Ronan Doherty slipped him in on goal.
Crusaders duly drew first blood three minutes later from a Ben Kennedy free-kick on the right that was not dealt with by the visiting defence, allowing Jordan Forsythe to poke home from 10 yards after Odhran Casey blocked his first attempt.
Hale side-footed wide and Ben Wilson found the side-netting three minutes later after Jonny Tuffey smothered his initial close-range attempt, and after Jarlath O’Rourke fired over at the other end, Tuffey pulled off a point-blank save to deny Ben Wilson four minutes before the break, with Daniel Larmour blocking the follow-up shot.
Gormley dispossessed Larmour after the interval to draw Tuffey and fire home off the far post but Nixon broke Reds hearts when he hammered home at the back post on 66 minutes from a Jay Boyd cross that was nodded down by Owens.
Owens was himself denied by a point blank Gartside save and Mallon fired inches off the mark but Crusaders held out for the win.
Crusaders Tuffey, Burns (c)(Winchester 8(Lecky 83)), Weir, Lowry, Kennedy, Forsythe, O’Rourke, Owens, Larmour, Heatley (Boyd 60), Nixon
Subs not used Kerr, Maguire, Barr, James
Cliftonville Gartside, Pepper, Kenny, Hale, Mallon, Doherty (Gordon 82), Burns, Gormley (c), Casey, Kearney, Wilson
Subs not used Odumosu, Curran, Jordan, McGuinness, Yoro, Hawthorne
Referee Mr Shane Andrews (Ballygowan)
