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Crusaders 1-1 Cliftonville

Cliftonville were unable to fashion a winner as Crusaders held on for a draw in this afternoon’s North Belfast Derby at Seaview.

Ahead through Ryan Curran’s penalty, the Reds were pegged back when Kieran Offord drew the hosts level after the break but, despite both chances creating scoring opportunities after the interval, neither was able to turn one point into three, with Destiny Ojo going closest with an injury-time blast that drew a fine save from Crues goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey.

A frantic opening to the contest saw last-gasp challenges from Shaun Leppard and Jonny Addis denying the hosts a shot on goal while, at the other end, Axel Piesold forced Tuffey to gather an effort from distance.

When Offord did find a route through shortly afterwards, he was kept at bay by David Odumosu, who picked himself up to keep Jordan Stewart’s follow-up out too.

Both Luke Conlan and Leppard threatened with right footed strikes before the deadlock was broken when Lewis Barr’s clumsy challenge on Joe Gormley earned a penalty that Curran stepped up to convert.

No sooner were Cliftonville in front than parity was restored when Offord muscled his way through to finish and the same player could have put Crusaders in front in the second period only to see a lightning breakaway end with another Odumosu save.

Tuffey was forced to claw a Shea Gordon set piece delivery off the line, with Jonny Addis steering his rebound into the side netting, ahead of a fierce Jordan Forsythe drive being turned over the top by Odumosu.

A triple substitution saw the Reds finish strongly and a winning goal looked to be on the cards when Ryan Markey worked his way into a good position in the last minute only for the home defence to get back in numbers but there was still time for some late drama that almost saw Ojo find the top corner from distance, with Tuffey’s flying stop ensuring a share of the spoils for Crusaders.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Newberry, Curran (Markey, 64 mins), Leppard, Lowe (Stewart, 64 mins), Conlan, Gordon (Corrigan, 81 mins), Doherty, Piesold (Pepper, 64 mins), Gormley (Ojo, 81 mins). Unused subs: Breen, McGuinness.