Five-star Cliftonville claim derby bragging rights with Premiership triumph over Crusaders
Cliftonville claimed North Belfast derby bragging rights with a 5-2 Premiership triumph over Crusaders at Solitude.
The Crues made a disastrous start to both halves, going 2-0 down after eight minutes, while Micheal Glynn restored a two-goal advantage just moments into the second half.
Goals from Adam Brooks and Scot Rough gave the Crues lifelines, but Harry Wilson’s fine strike combined alongside Josh Kelly’s late header sealed maximum points for the Reds.
It marked only a second win across Cliftonville’s last nine league matches while Crusaders remain in the promotion/relegation play-off position.
Here’s the story of the match:
TEAM NEWS
Cliftonville: Ridd, Wilson, Hale (c), Leppard, Conlan, Glynn, Toole, J. Kelly, Healy, Carroll, Sheridan.
Subs: Murray, Pepper, Curran, Gormley, A. Kelly, McStravick, Hawthorne.
Crusaders: Dibaga, Brooks, Thorndike, Dunlop, Easton, J. Forsythe (c), Williamson, Bryden, Maguire, Rough, Anderson.
Subs: Tuffey, K. Forsythe, McKechnie, Nixon, Bruce, McCart, James.
Referee: Jamie Robinson
FIRST HALF
4: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (BRIAN HEALY): The Reds make a dream start as Brian Healy nips in to dispossess Scot Rough before slamming past Musa Dibaga. 1-0.
8: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (LUKE CONLAN): Disaster for the Crues as Cliftonville double their lead – Luke Conlan heading home from a pinpoint Micheal Glynn corner. 2-0.
13: First booking of the afternoon as Evan Easton is booked for bringing down Rory Hale in a dangerous area. Glynn sends an effort just wide after being set up by Hale.
17: Thomas Maguire does well to float past a couple of defenders before whipping in a cross which Adam Brooks turns just past the post.
26: Elliot Dunlop tries his luck from the edge of the box with a powerful effort which Lewis Ridd claims at the second attempt.
37: Harry Wilson shoots over the crossbar after working his way into the box. Game has calmed down after a frantic start.
39: Fraser Bryden rises highest to meet Thorndike’s corner but can’t direct his header on target.
42: GOAL – CRUSADERS (ADAM BROOKS): Lifeline for the Crues moments before the break as Bryden meets Jordan Forsythe’s cross and puts it into the path of Brooks, who nods home from close range. 2-1.
44: Healy comes close to scoring his second but a deflected shot sails just wide of the post.
45+2: Cliftonville launch a fine attacking move as Hale plays a superb pass across to Adam Carroll. Striker unleashes a shot which looks to be going into the bottom corner, but Dibaga denies the Reds with a fine save.
HALF TIME: CLIFTONVILLE 2 – 1 CRUSADERS
SECOND HALF
48: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (MICHEAL GLYNN): Another disastrous start to a half for the Crues as Hale feeds Glynn, who fires across goal into the bottom corner. 3-1.
57: GOAL – CRUSADERS (SCOT ROUGH): Crues work their way back into the match once again as Rough heads home Thorndike’s corner. 3-2.
58: Cliftonville almost immediately restore their two-goal advantage as Dibaga produces a fine save to deny Hale’s header.
59: Jordan Forsythe booked for his reaction after Jamie Robinson awards a Cliftonville free-kick. Appears Declan Caddell has also been booked.
63: First change for Cliftonville as Joe Sheridan makes way for Liam McStravick.
68: Thomas Maguire booked for halting a quick Cliftonville throw. Crues make four changes with Kieran McKechnie, Cameron Bruce, Kurtis Forsythe and Stewart Nixon replacing Thomas Maguire, Evan Easton, Elliot Dunlop and Finley Thorndike.
70: Adam Carroll and Brian Healy replaced by Joe Gormley and Ryan Curran for the hosts.
72: Cliftonville captain Rory Hale latest player into the book for bringing down Jordan Forsythe.
73: Josh Williamson now booked for the Crues for trying to halt an attack and Adam Brooks also cautioned moments later.
78: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (HARRY WILSON): Stunning strike from Wilson, who curls his effort from about 25 yards into the bottom corner. Huge goal for the Reds. 4-2.
82: Goalscorers Luke Conlan and Micheal Glynn replaced by Keevan Hawthorne and Aidan Kelly.
85: Adam Brooks replaced by Oli McCart for the Crues.
90: Four minutes of added time.
90+2: Stewart Nixon latest man into the book.
90+5: GOAL – CLIFTONVILLE (JOSH KELLY): A late Kelly header puts gloss on the scoreline for Cliftonville as he nods home from Hale’s free-kick. 5-2.
FULL TIME: CLIFTONVILLE 5 – 2 CRUSADERS