Crusaders Win Last North Belfast Derby Of The Season

16th Apr 2024

It will be Crusaders who have the bragging rights over the summer in North Belfast after beating Cliftonville 2-1 at Seaview tonight in the North Belfast Derby and with it have opened a four point gap over Glentoran after they where beaten by Larne in the race for fourth place in the play offs with only two games to go.

A decent finish by Jordan Forsythe had Crusaders noses in front in the first half but Cliftonville had a few chances that they look back on and think what could have been. Jordan Forsythes goal came when the ball dropped to him in a crowded goalmouth and after his first shot was chargrd down he calmly struck the ball with the outside of his foot and hit the back of the net from inside the box to put Crusaders ahead and 1-0 up at half time.

The second half Crusaders where pinned back when Joe Gormley ran through and scored off the inside of the post six minutes into the half and it was game on. Crusaders took the game to Cliftonville and both sides traded blows and it was Crusaders who went ahead again on 66 minutes when Stewart Nixon converted at the back post after Jordan Owens had headed down a Jay Boyd cross. Cliftonville did not have an answer for a now positive Crusaders and on the whistle Crusaders had beaten Cliftonville in Stephen Baxters last Derby and fourth place had been slightly more possible.

Full Report To Follow….