BLUES MOVE FOUR POINTS CLEAR
Linfield moved four points clear at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership with victory over Crusaders at Seaview.
After a quiet opening, the Crues might have taken the lead after a Ross Clarke corner was only cleared as far as Paul Heatley on the edge of the area but his low effort was well kept out by Chris Johns.
And Heatley tested Johns again soon after in similar circumstances but, again, the Linfield keeper proved more than equal to the challenge.
At the other end only a Josh Robinson clearance off the line prevented Kirk Millar from opening the scoring through a crowded box after a Matthew Clarke cross caused problems.
But the deadlock was eventually broken in first half stoppage time when, from another Clarke delivery, Euan East turned to fire a low shot home from six yards.
As before, the second half was a little slow to get going before a Billy Joe Burns cross connected with Daniel Larmour but his header failed to trouble Johns.
Decent scoring opportunities proved to be at something of a premium as the game progressed with both sides left searching for little more than half chances.
Indeed, arguably the best opening came towards the end with East having the chance to double his tally only to volley over despite being unmarked at the back post from yet another Clarke cross.
Crusaders: Tuffey, Burns, Weir, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Owens, Larmour, Heatley, Robinson, Clarke, Anderson subs Williamson, Lowry, Lecky, Teelan, Kennedy, Boyd, James
Linfield: Johns, Finlayson, East, Millar, McClean, Hall, Clarke, Mulgrew, Fitzpatrick, Annett, Archer subs Walsh, Newberry, McBrien, McKee, McKay, Doherty, Graham
Substitution 
Substitution 
