Report By Glenn Kelly
Ten-man Crusaders fell to third in the table as they could only muster a 1-1 draw with Glentoran with Jay Donnelly putting the visitor’s ahead in the opening half, before Philip Lowry equalised in first-half injury time. Josh Robinson saw red early in the second period for the hosts.
The first chance of the game fell to Glentoran. A mix-up down the Crusaders left allowed Jay Donnelly a clear through run on goal, but his low effort was expertly saved by Jonny Tuffey in goal. Just before the half-hour mark the visitors should have been in front. Jay Donnelly attacked down the right before delivering a low cross across the face of goal and Junior got on the end of it two yards out, but somehow the striker allowed the ball to hit his standing leg and bobble wide. Paul Heatley had a fizzing effort sail just wide of the post minutes later before Glentoran deservedly opened the scoring on 35 minutes. Marcus Kane smashed a header off the crossbar from a corner, with the ball rebounding to Junior. His effort was well saved by Tuffey but fell to Jay Donnelly who made no mistake from five yards. The home side battled hard and deservedly were back level in injury time. Adam Lecky with the knock-down from a long punt up field and that man Lowry fired home with the outside of the boot from the edge of the area to give Aaron McCarey no chance.
On 49 minutes, Crusaders' afternoon took a turn for the worse. Josh Robinson hauled down Jay Donnelly from behind as the striker charged through on goal. Referee Christoper Morrison had no doubts and produced a red card. Glentoran then lost Bobby Burns after the player collided nastily with an advertising hoarding, he was eventually stretchered off after significant treatment. It was the team with 10-men who threatened greater as the game moved on and were awarded a penalty on the 67th minute when Aidan Wilson handled in the box. Ben Kennedy stepped up but his mild effort was easily saved by McCarey. Crusaders pressed but could not find a winner thereafter.