NIXON EARNS CRUES DERBY HONOURS

Crusaders took a huge step towards securing fourth spot with victory over Cliftonville in the North Belfast derby at Seaview.

The win moves the Crues four points clear of Glentoran in the jockeying for position ahead of the European play-offs which, if maintained, will see Stephen Baxter's side receive home advantage in the end of season series.

Jordan Forsythe opened the scoring on 18 minutes. The ball fell for him after a Ben Kennedy free-kick led to a scramble in the box with Forsythe finding the net at the second attempt after his initial effort was deflected away.

Cliftonville might have levelled on a couple of occasions soon after, with Rory Hale firing narrowly wide followed quickly by Ben Wilson brushing a shot against the outside of the post under pressure from keeper Jonny Tuffey.

At the other end both Jarlath O'Rourke and Forsythe saw chances go narrowly wide before play switched again for Wilson to denied by a superb point blank save to keep out his header.

But the Reds did get back on level terms early in the second half after Joe Gormley dispossessed Daniel Larmour before bringing the ball forward and firing home in off the left upright.

However the Crues regained the advantage on 66 minutes with what proved to be the winner. A Jay Boyd cross from the right was nodded on by Jordan Owens for Stewart Nixon to knock home at the far post.

And the home side looked to end the game in style - in what was manager Baxter's last derby in charge - when Owens saw an effort palmed over by Nathan Gartside followed swiftly by a Nixon shot towards the top corner which ended up sailing just wide.

Then, in the closing moments, Nixon came close again only for his strike from distance to come crashing back off the crossbar.

Crusaders: Tuffey, Burns, Weir, Lowry, Kennedy, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Owens, Larmour, Heatley, Nixon subs Kerr, Lecky, Winchester, Boyd, Maguire, Barr, James

Cliftonville: Gartside, Pepper, Kenny, Hale, Mallon, Doherty, Burns, Gormley, Casey, Kearney, Wilson subs Odumosu, Curran, Jordan, Gordon, McGuinness, Yoro, Hawthorne