Match Report -Cliftonville-V-Crusaders 28.10.00

              Cliftonville drop points and ground on leaders Linfield, as the Reds drew 1-1 in the North Belfast derby. The 'other two" derby was a win for Linfield at the Oval.

                Youngster S�an Adams scored the Cliftonville goal as Crusaders had the upper hand for the first 15 minutes. Stephen Baxter of Crusaders nearly gave the Crues' the lead after two minutes, his cross-cum-shot went past 'Ville keeper Micheal Ingham and MIckey Donnelly cleared the ball off the line to keep the match stalemate for the time being. More Crusaders pressure and Baxter again going close, this time his header was just over and wide with Ingham rooted to the spot.

              This appeared to be the catalyst for Cliftonville pressure when the ball was flicked to Tommy McCallion, he rounded two Crusaders defenders, and clipped the ball in from the right, and onto Northern Ireland defender S�an Adams' head to give Cliftonville the lead after 18 minutes. Ten minutes after, red hot in form striker Aiden O'Kane should have given Cliftonville an extended lead but for a god stop by the Crusaders keeper.

           In a dour second half, a Crusaders corner was connected by former Reds boy Peter Whitnell to give Crusaders the equaliser on the hour.

           All in all, a dour North Belfast derby at Solitude as Cliftonville dropped two points and move further behind Marty Quinns' Coleraine. The table can be viewed here as Cliftonville who are on 19 points slip away from leaders Linfield.