Seaview setback

Crusaders 1-0 Cliftonville

Cliftonville slipped to a narrow North Belfast Derby defeat on a disappointing evening at Seaview.

Despite enjoying a bright first-half, the Reds were unable to generate any momentum after the break and Crusaders took full advantage with Jordan Owens’ pressure resulting in Conor McDermott sending his attempted goal-line clearance against team-mate Aaron Donnelly, who couldn’t stop the ball from dropping over the line.

The closest the visitors came to scoring was a rasping right-footed drive from Conor McMenamin during the early exchanges, but he was one of three players forced off by injury with a reshuffle in the aftermath of Levi Ives’ departure arguably leading to the Crues gaining a foothold in the contest.

Garry Breen would be the final player to exit and it wasn’t long after he hobbled off that the home side banked the only goal of a scrappy contest, with Cliftonville unable to muster any kind of spark in their search for an equaliser.

Full report to follow…