Report By Glenn Kelly
Crusaders got back to winning ways to defeat a robust Newry City 3-1 and keep themselves in the race for a top three finish. Stephen Baxter made two changes to the side that lost 4-2 to Glenavon midweek. The home side went into the game having won all five of the previous meetings between the sides.
In wet and windy conditions, fans were treated to a lively encounter. Dean Ebbe opened the scoring, heading home from close range. Both sides contributed to an open first half with Jordan Owens missing a header for the Crues early on and James Teelan lobbing Johnny Tuffey following a mix up in the Crusaders defence, Daniel Larmour racing back to clear off the line. Ebbe got the opener in the 31st minute following a swinging cross from left-back Jarlath O’Rourke which was neatly nodded down by Jordan Owens into Ebbes path who made no mistake from two yards. 1-0 was how it stood at the break.
Both sides started the second brightly but neither side managing to get a stranglehold in the game. However, just as Newry looked the more likely to score, a break from Ebbe led to the ball being spread wide right. Jordan Forsythe crossed to the back post where Owens crouched to guide the ball beautifully into the bottom corner with his head. The visitors were far from down however and 13 minutes later they got one back. Substitute Declan Carville was brought down inside the Crusaders box. The big striker dusted himself down to roll home the subsequent penalty, sending Tuffey the wrong way. If Newry thought they had a path back into the game, Baxter’s men had other ideas. In the 80th minute Forsythe picked the ball up just inside the Newry half, before spotting Steven Maguire in the Newry goal off his line. The right back unleashed a wonder strike which looped over Maguire into the back of the net for a contender for goal of the season. At 3-1 Newry’s fire was extinguised and the Crues saw out the game to remain 4th in the table. Next up is a mouthwatering trip to Larne next week for Baxters men.