Crusaders win relief far beyond festive bragging rights after first goal since November 22
Crusaders managed to stop the rot after five consecutive Premiership defeats with Boxing Day bragging rights over Cliftonville.
Ryan Curran’s own goal marked the first plus on a Crues scoresheet since November 22 before Adam Brooks wrapped up the 2-1 success at Solitude in the closing stages.
Jack Keaney made an early block to frustrate Crusaders' Finlay Thorndike.
Odhran Casey's last-gasp challenge then prevented Thorndike from taking advantage of an opening.
Lewis Barr offered perfect timing to turn the ball behind at the cost of a corner-kick after Casey's ball towards Ryan Curran at the back post.
Hard work by Crusaders to win back possession offers another opening, with Lewis Ridd unable to hold Fraser Bryden's strike but Cliftonville regrouped to recover from the threat.
Slick link-up play between Adam Brooks and Thorndike around the edge of the box offered promise before Jonny Addis stepped in.
An own goal by Curran then left Crusaders in control before the half-hour mark as Thorndike's corner-kick delivery came off the Cliftonville forward into his own net.
Keevan Hawthorne's inviting cross from the left wing dropped around the six-yard box only for Jarlath O'Rourke to hack away the threat.
Thomas Lavery flashed a low angled shot just past the target as Cliftonville increased the pressure.
Ridd had to save with his foot to deny the lively Elliot Dunlop before half-time.
Brooks cleared the crossbar then Bryden's attempt was blocked by Addis.
McWoods has a shot blocked on the line after Casey found Joe Sheridan for the latter to cut the ball back.
Curran could only head wide off Rory Hale's free-kick from the left and the latter produced another teasing set-piece delivery but Cliftonville failed to find the decisive final touch.
Brooks' block stopped Casey's long-range strike off a Sheridan pass.
Keaney's long-range free-kick suggested a superb goal but Musa Dibaga was on hand with a superb fingertip save.
McWoods showed pace to get in behind off Joe Gormley's sliderule pass but Dibaga proved on hand to stop at his near post.
Crusaders increased the advantage on 86 minutes thanks to Brooks' back-post header off a corner-kick.
Hale then found Addis off a set-piece but Dibaga was in position to collect for Crusaders.
A corner-kick did offer Cliftonville a path back into the match over added time when Michael Glynn's delivery was guided in by Casey.
But the Crues stood firm until the final whistle for a welcome win on top of the derby plaudits.
CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison, Lavery, Addis, Wilson, Hale, Curran, Casey, Keaney, McWoods, Hawthorne, Sheridan.
Subs: Ridd, Pepper, Falls, Leppard, Gormley, Glynn, Mahoney.
CRUSADERS: Dibaga, Brooks, Thorndike, Dunlop, Forsythe, O’Rourke, Williamson, Bryden, Clarke, Anderson, Barr.
Subs: Tuffey, Forsythe, Hamilton, Jewitt-White, Easton, Nixon, McCart.