Derby delight!

Cliftonville 1-0 Crusaders

Joe Gormley claimed the only goal of the game as Cliftonville’s first-half dominance of tonight’s North Belfast Derby was rewarded with three points.

Though Crusaders stepped things up after the interval, they failed to overly test goalkeeper David Odumosu, whereas opposite number Jonny Tuffey had made a string of saves to stop the Reds running away with things during a superb opening 45 minutes at Solitude.

After surging off his line to deny Taylor Steven, Tuffey gathered a Ronan Doherty free-kick and turned a Rory Hale attempt over the bar before, at the other end, Jordan Forsythe sent a header straight at Odumosu.

Gormley was then twice denied by the Crues’ stopper, who first tipped a headed effort over the top before standing up to deny the striker when a one-on-one opportunity presented itself.

After Gormley sent another strike over and Micheal Glynn drew a save from Tuffey in the aftermath of an Arran Pettifer drive being charged down, the breakthrough finally came when Shea Kearney slipped Gormley in and this time he made no mistake.

After Odumosu had been called into action to repel a Kieran Offord blast, Cliftonville almost went 2-0 up when Steven’s cross was touched goalward by Glynn only for the keeper to again intervene and, just before the hour, the Reds again failed to finish a positive move off when Gormley found Ryan Curran on the edge of the box but, when his effort was blocked by a crowd of defenders, the ball fell for Steven, whose follow-up was turned behind by Lewis Barr.

That proved the Reds’ last gilt-edged chance to double their advantage and, after Forsythe had found the side netting following a dangerous delivery from the right, substitute Philip Lowry twice went close with strikes that whistled past either post.

Jacob Blaney smashed wide from a promising position and Jordan Stewart was off target with a low drive as Cliftonville found themselves having to weather some late pressure that ultimately wasn’t enough to earn Crusaders a share of the derby spoils.

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Newberry, Pettifer (Piesold, 80 mins), Kearney, Hale (Corrigan, 90 mins), Curran (Donnelly, 80 mins), Doherty, Gormley, Glynn, Steven (Conlan, 69 mins). Unused subs: Ridd, Stewart, Markey.