Nixon pounces to add to Reds’ misery

CRUSADERS 2

CLIFTONVILLE 1

CRUSADERS substitute Stewart Nixon scored the winning goal of an entertaining north Belfast derby at Seaview last night, extending Cliftonville’s pre-irish Cup Final slump in form.

Jordan Forsthye opened for the hosts on 18 minutes, and this was cancelled out by a clinical finish from Joe Gormley six minutes after the restart before Nixon claimed victory for the Hatchetmen.

The result sees Crusaders remain in fourth spot in the Sports Direct Premiership, while Cliftonville have now gone four without a win after beating Larne in the Irish Cup Semi-finals.

Stephen Baxter made one change, Paul Heatley for Jude Winchester, while Jim Magilton made six changes from the weekend’s 8-1 mauling by Larne, with goalkeeper David Odumosu replaced by Narthan Gartside, starting for the first time since November.

Stephen Mallon was once again enjoying himself against Crusaders, proving very dangerous down the left flank, but it was the home side who took the lead on 18 minutes from a Ben Kennedy free-kick on the right flank.

Cliftonville failed to deal with the delivery as the ball pinballed around the box before Forsythe poked home from 10 yards at the second time of asking.

The visitors almost levelled within seconds of the restart when Mallon pulled back from the byline to Rory Hale arriving in the box, but the 27-year-old sidefooted wide of the near post.

Cliftonville had another great chance to level when Gormley threaded to Ben Wilson deep inside the box, Jonny Tuffey smothered the close-range effort and Wilson hit the side netting when the ball squirmed out to him.

Jarlath O’rourke flashed over the bar from a Nixon throw-in on 29 minutes, then the Reds had another chance to score four minutes before the interval when Tuffey pulled off a point-blank save to deny Wilson, with Daniel Larmour blocking the follow-up.

Cliftonville would not be denied, however, and Gormley levelled six minutes after the restart when he cleverly dispossessed Larmour to bear down on Tuffey’s goal and slot past the exposed Crusaders keeper.

Larmour atoned six minutes later when he made a last-ditch tackle to deny Gormley a double before Crusaders regained the lead on 66 minutes when Jay Boyd centred from the right, Jordan Owens got a flick and Nixon volleyed home at the back post.

Gartside denied Owens with a reflex save on 70 minutes, Mallon fired agonisingly wide and Nixon fizzed off the bar from long range before the final whistle.

CRUSADERS: Tuffey, Burns (Winchester 8), Lecky 83), Weir, Lowry, Kennedy, Forsythe, O’rourke, Owens, Larmour, Heatley (Boyd 60), Nixon.

Subs not used: Kerr, Maguire, Barr, James. CLIFTONVILLE: Gartside, Pepper, Kenny, Hale, Mallon, Doherty (Gordon 82), Burns, Gormley, Casey, Kearney, Wilson.

Subs not used: Odumosu, Curran, Jordan, Mcguinness, Yoro, Hawthorne.

Referee: Shane Andrews (Ballygowan)

Man of the Match: nd Philip Lowry Match rating: 8/10