It was a good day at Seaview for Crusaders as they enjoyed a 4-0 win over Newry City who played most of the game with 10 men. Two goals from Philip Lowry and a goal a piece for Paul Heatley and Billy Joe Burns moved Crusaders back to third place.
The returning Paul Heatley started like a house on fire and indeed scored after only 7 minutes when his shot flew past Steven Maguire in the Newry City net. The game took a twist on 13 minutes when Philip Donnelly was dismissed for aiming a punch at Philip Lowrys chest.. Crusaders had a lot of possession and chances after this but failed to capitalise until the 41st minute when Billy Joe Burns crossed in a beautiful ball and Philip Lowry headed in to make it 2-0. Mccauley Snelgrove had a chance just before that was well saved and the half ended with Crusaders leading 2-0.
The second half played like the first with Crusaders in control. Crusaders went further ahead on 61 minutes when Billy Joe Burns scored with a diving header from a Jarlath O'Rourke cross and the game was out of reach for the visitors. It was 4-0 on 76 minutes when that man Philip Lowry again popped up to score his second of the game when he headed home a Paul Heatley cross and the job was done. There was still time for Adam Lecky to crash a shot off the post on 83 minutes but in did not matter as the game ended with a convincing scoreline.
Back to third until at least Sunday afternoon attention now turns to a series of important games with Linfield, Glentoran and Coleraine waiting in the coming weeks.
Crusaders: Murphy, Burns, Lowry, O’Rourke, Owens, Winchester, Larmour, Heatley, Snelgrove, Clarke, Barr subs Pauley (not used), Weir (replaced Barr 68), Lecky (replaced Owens 68), Ebbe (replaced Winchester 79), Thompson (replaced Snelgrove 68), Steele (not used), McMurray (replaced Clarke 79)
Newry City: Maguire, King, N. Healy, Lockhart, Teelan, Martin, B. Healy, Donnelly, Rocks, Scullion, Montgomery subs Brady (not used), Omrore (replaced Rocks 68), Hughes (not used), Moan (replaced Scullion 46), Kwelele (replaced B. Healy 75), McCaul (replaced Teelan 75), Clarke (replaced Lockhart 68)