CLINICAL REDS SEAL DERBY WIN
Cliftonville produced a clinical performance in front of goal to defeat Crusaders in the north Belfast derby at Solitude.
The first half was a largely uneventful affair but it did roar into life with just over ten minutes on the clock when Paul Heatley, Ross Clarke and Odhran Casey were all cautioned by referee Jamie Robinson following a scuffle.
But the half was graced by a goal ten minutes from the break after Joe Gormley latched onto the loose ball after Ronan Hale's initial header was kept out by Jonny Tuffey to fire home from close range.
Crusaders pushed hard early in the second half in search of the equaliser with Paul Heatley testing David Odumosu at the near post while Adam Lecky was teed up by Philip Lowry soon after but he just couldn't get a strong enough connection to trouble the home keeper.
However, the Reds doubled their advantage midway through the second period when Ronan Hale crossed from the left for brother Rory to knock home his sixth goal of the campaign.
And Jim Magilton's side made sure with three minutes remaining through substitute Ben Wilson after he beat Tuffey from an acute angle.
Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Gallagher, Rory Hale, Mallon, Doherty, Gormley, Casey, Turner, Ronan Hale, Kearney subs Gartside, Pepper, Kenny, Curran, Ashford, Wilson, McGuinness
Crusaders: Tuffey, Burns, Weir, Lowry, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Winchester, Larmour, Heatley, Robinson, Clarke subs Williamson, Lecky, Teelan, Kennedy, Owens, Smith, Anderson
Substitution 
Substitution 
