Both sides might have led at the break with the Crues having an Aaron Black 'goal' ruled out offside while Liam Boyce saw an effort cleared off the line.

However, all the goals were reserved for a pulsating second half.

Crusaders moved in front nine minutes after the break when David Rainey pounced on a John Connolly clearance to promptly turn the ball back past the Reds 'keeper.

Cliftonville levelled seven minutes later, though, thanks to Francis Murphy who was teed up by Aaron Smyth to beat Chris Keenan.

The visitors might have gone ahead soon after when Stephen McBride fouled Kieran O'Connor in the area only for Chris Scannell to fire the resultant spot-kick against the crossbar.

The Reds did grab their second seven minutes later, however, after Boyce bundled home the loose ball from an O'Connor header before, on 81 minutes, they made it 3-1 courtesy of a first time George McMullan drive.

There was to be a grandstand finish when, three minutes from time, Ross Arthurs thundered home a header but despite a late rally the visitors held on to secure the points.