What proved to be the winner came just eight minutes in when a Stephen Hyndes ball from the left side of the area came off stand-in skipper Colin Coates on it's way past Institute 'keeper Michael Doherty.

And Jordan Owens might have made it 2-0 three minutes later only for Doherty to use his experience to save with hs legs.

Doherty saved 'Stute again later in the game when he was first to a threatening Chris Morrow cross with David Rainey ready to pounce while, on 39 minutes, he had his crossbar to thank when it was struck by a Stevie Coulter free-kick from the edge of the area.

Crusaders hit the bar again nine minutes after the break from a Coates header but, in the end, that early solitary goal turned out to be all they needed to secure the points.