Jordan Owens seals derby delight for Crusaders over Cliftonville

The giant striker grabbed the only goal of the game to earn Stephen Baxter’s boys three points in a game that will not live long in the memory of the fans who managed to get a ticket.

In fact, only 400 were allowed through the turnstiles because of the Covid-19 safety rules.

But the atmosphere was tame compared to the white-hot rivalry both sets of fans usually create in these derby fixtures.

Owens settled it 20 minutes from time – but it’s a goal that will give Reds boss Paddy McLaughlin nightmares as a defensive calamity.

Baxter stuck with the old guard, preferring to leave his high-profile summer signings in the dugout.

It was the Reds who asked the first question on only five minutes.

Levi Ives’ long throw-in was flicked on by Joe Gormley for Conor McMenamin, but he could only fire wide when put under pressure from Chris Hegarty.

McMenamin then tried his luck with an audacious 25-yard shot that forced Sean O’Neill into a fantastic finger-tip save.

Crusaders responded with the busy Jordan Forsythe whipping in a cross from the right, which was met by Declan Caddell but his flick header brushed past the post.

Another pin-point delivery from Forsythe had goalkeeper Richard Brush rushing from his line to deny the lurking Owens. Defender Ryan O’Reilly mopped up the rebound.

The Crues appeared to be denied a penalty kick three minutes from the interval. Jamie McGonigle’s superb reverse pass sent Michael Ruddy hurtling into the box and over the boot of Brush.

Referee Jamie Robinson booked the Crues defender for questioning his decision.

Then, seconds before the interval. Forsythe’s monster throw-in on the right was met by the towering Owens and when the ball broke for Philip Lowry he could only blast his shot wide.

It was the Crues who dominated the opening phase of the second session with both Paul Heatley and McGonigle testing Brush with long-distance efforts.

Baxter then introduced Ronan Hale – for Gary Thompson – on 66 minutes and it almost paid an immediate dividend.

The former Derry City midfielder picked up a flick from Owens and his lob from the edge of the box forced Brush into a brilliant save.

But the Crues at last broke the deadlock 19 minutes from time.

Hale’s long punt through the middle caught the Reds defence napping.

Owens got up above the stranded Brush and his tame header trickled over the line, as Conor McDermott and Aaron Donnelly struggled with attempts to hoof the ball clear.

CRUSADERS: O’Neill, Hegarty, Lowry, McGonigle, Caddell (Kennedy, 82), Forsythe, Ruddy, Owens (Lecky, 82), Brown, Thompson (Hale, 65), Heatley.

Subs (not used): Doherty, Cushley, O’Rourke, Burns.

CLIFTONVILLE: Brush, McDermott, Ives (McCrudden, 38), Breen (Harney, 70), O’Reilly, C.Curran, R.Curran, McMenamin (O’Connor, 50), Donnelly, Bagnall, Gormley.

Subs (not used): Dunne, Foster, Casey, Maguire.

REFEREE: Jamie Robinson.