It was a significant day at both ends of the league as Dungannon Swifts edged closer to safety while all but finishing the Crues’ fading title dreams.
A somewhat fortunate goal from Neal Gawley saw the Tyrone side claim a credible point in North Belfast to halt a run of four straight defeats on the road.
But for a late equaliser from Jordan Owens and a crucial goal-line clearance, the outcome could have been even better for Dungannon.
Regardless, manager Darren Murphy will reflect on another encouraging performance at a ground which has become notoriously difficult for visiting teams.
Crusaders have lost just one league game at Seaview since the start of 2012, and are unbeaten here in the Premiership this season.
Yet they needed that 80th minute Owens’ header to snatch a barely deserved point.
James Costello also saw a late effort cleared off the line, yet the Crues’ relief will be tempered by the realisation that their championship hopes are over.
They now trail cross-city rivals Cliftonville by 14 points with just 30 left to play for.
Indeed Stephen Baxter’s main focus is now on ensuring second place doesn’t slip from their grasp, with Linfield drawing level with them at the weekend.
Meanwhile Swifts stay 10 points ahead of the relegation places and, with games running out, they are well placed to secure their senior status.
Seaview has never been a welcoming place for Dungannon, who had won just once in their last 10 visits to the stadium.
However, they seemed on course to improve that record after taking a 40th minute lead.
It followed a terrific cross from Matt Hazley to Gawley who forced the ball home after his initial header had been blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs.
The goal came at some cost to the winger, however. He sustained a head injury in the process and had to be substituted.
Otherwise this was a game which took time to come to life, with the opening half hour producing few chances.
Early on David Rainey chased a ball into the box and got a shot on target while Chris Morrow also went close with a couple of efforts.
At the other end James Costello fired into the side-netting after combining well with Gawley.
Hazley then tried his luck with a powerful drive which Yohann Lacroix gathered at the second attempt.
Crusaders, despite boasting an impressive home record, were second best across the park with too many passes going astray.
Swifts could have made it 2-0 early in the second half when a turn of pace from Stefan Lavery took him past Colin Coates, however, his drive from a difficult angle was well stopped.
They did enjoy some good fortune at times, though.
Timmy Adamson should have levelled against his former club, but failed to connect with a cross from David Magowan.
Later David McMaster and then Adamson saw efforts come back off the same post – both times the ‘keeper was rooted to the spot.
The Crues were starting to ask more questions, and they levelled with 10 minutes remaining.
A long ball from Jamie Mitchell was cleared only as far as James Knowles, and Owens got ahead of Cameron Grieve to head home the return cross.
It should have been the signal for a dramatic finish, but the feared Crues’ onslaught never came.
Indeed it was Dungannon who could have snatched a late winner when Costello’s effort was cleared off the line by Morrow eight minutes from the end.
CRUSADERS: Lacroix, Gibson (Mitchell, 46), Magowan, Coates, McBride (McCready, 80), Robinson, Morrow, McMaster, Snoddy, Rainey (Owens, 46), Adamson
Subs not used: McClean, Leeman
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, McKerr, Grieve, Brennan, Montgomery, O’Neill, Hutchinson, Harpur, Hazley, Costello, Gawley (S Lavery, 41)
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, PL Lavery, McMinn, T Murphy
Referee: Alan Black (Antrim)