Chris Morrow celebrates his first goal with David Larmour

The Crues were ahead after just three minutes when Chris Morrow headed in from a Stephen Shaw free-kick.

Colin Coates headed in number two and Ciaran Gargan made it 3-0 for the Shore Road side before half-time.

David Munster and David Rainey netted to make it five while Morrow and Gargan each got their second goals and Anto Crawford rounded off the romp.

Afterwards City boss Roy Coyle described the night as his most embarrassing one in football while Crues boss Stephen Baxter savoured a sixth successive win.

It all began with Morrow pouncing early on for his fifth goal in six matches.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 with Colin Coates netting a glancing header from another Shaw free.

Gargan shot in from an acute angle on 29 minutes after being set up by David Larmour.

Three minutes after the restart defender Munster broke through to chip keeper Robert Robinson.

The First Division champions made it 5-0 on 63 minutes with a close-range finish from Rainey after Larmour had whipped in the cross.

Colin Beggs then crossed for Morrow to score and also set up Gargan to head in the seventh.

Four minutes from time substitute Crawford fited in goal number eight from the edge of the area.