A second half double from Jay Boyd was enough for Crusaders Reserves to secure a comeback win over Cliftonville Olympic and take all three points in the North Belfast derby at Solitude on Wednesday evening.
Boyd struck in the 47th and 78th minute as Crusaders racked up their 10th league win in a row, after Robbie Morrow had given Cliftonville the half time lead they deserved.
In a tight encounter, it was the home side who started brightest in the game and they were rewarded with the opening goal on 15 minutes. Morrow hooked home the opener from inside the box, reacting quickest after Paul Donnelly’s free kick was only half cleared by the Crusaders defence.
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They were denied a second late in the half by Crusaders’ goalkeeper Pauley McKenzie, who produced a terrific point blank save to thwart a sliding effort from Luca McGreevy Couchman after he connected with a low cross form the left.
David Rainey’s men had a huge chance to equalise moments later, but Lewis Barr was unable to divert the ball into the net despite being virtually on the goal line when Conor Quinn swung in the corner.
Rainey’s half time team talk had an immediate impact as Boyd hauled the Crues level two minutes after the restart, following in to finish after Sam Morrow’s shot was parried into his path.
Crusaders continued to dominate the early proceedings in the second period, as Barr headed wide from Quinn’s free kick. They took the lead with twelve minutes remaining with Boyd on hand at the back to convert from Barr’s low cross for his and Crusaders’ second of the evening.
Those goals helped him take his tally to 24 in all competitions for the season as his side maintained their 15 point advantage at the top of the NIFL Premiership Development League. The loss was also Cliftonville’s fourth in a row as they slipped to fifth in the table.
Elsewhere, Linfield Swifts triumphed in the Big Two Derby with a convincing 3-0 win over Glentoran II at Midgley Park.
Aaron Boyd opened the scoring for the Swifts on 39 minutes, and added his and Linfield's second in the 62nd minute. Reece Lyttle netted a third in the closing stages to seal the victory and leave the Glens without a league win in their last five games.
Dungannon Reserves moved to third in the table as they romped to a commanding 10-1 win against strugglers Newry City Reserves at Stangmore Park.
Tomas Galvin had them ahead with less than a minute on the clock before the prolific Padraig Lynch struck a brace in the 5th and 7th minute to give them a comfortable early lead.
Galvin completed a quick fire hat-trick when he got on the scoresheet again on 13 and 17 minutes, with Darragh Stewart adding a sixth on the stroke of half time.
Sam Anderson made it seven on 55 minutes before Sean McCaul netted a consolation for Newry. Odhran Skelton further extended Dungannon's lead before Anderson also bagged a treble, scoring in the 75th and 81st minutes as they breezed to a fourth straight win.
Larne Olympic's recent resurgence continued as they moved to within a point of Carrick Rangers Reserves after coming from a goal down to defeat the Gers 3-1 at Taylor's Avenue.
Kyle Ross had Carrick ahead on four minutes, with Larne forced to wait until the second half to get back into the game. Max Hutchinson equalised five minutes after the restart before they were dealt a blow when Jay Patterson was sent off soon after the goal for a second yellow card offence.
Despite being a man down, Larne took the lead on 68 minutes with a rasping long range strike from Sean Brown. Nicholas Aretzis scored a third with ten minutes remaining to ensure Larne extended their unbeaten run to five games.
A Ballymena side strengthened by the inclusion of a number of first teamers got back to winning ways with a convincing 4-1 victory over rivals Coleraine at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
Summer signing George Tipton fired them in front on 26 minutes with Kenny Kane doubling their lead on the half hour mark and Andy McGrory adding a third two minutes later.
Nathan Clarke made it four after half time, before Jack Patton pulled a goal back for Coleraine from the spot.
Ballymena were forced to play the last ten minutes with ten men as Lewis Tennant received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.
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