It was the exact reaction that manager Declan Caddell looked for today as Crusaders beat Colearine 2-1 at the Coleraine Showgrounds. Goals from Jordan Stewart and Kieran Offord in the first half made the difference despite Coleraine pulling a goal back in the second half and it meant Crusaders leap frogging Coleraine in the Sports Direct Premiership table and the back into the chasing pack that sees only five points between second and eighth.
Crusaders played against the wind in the first half and had the first real chance but Kieran Offord pulled his shot wide. Crusaders had a let off after twelve minutes when Rhyss Campbells header came off the cross bar leaving a relieved Johnny Tuffey. Two minutes later a move by Jamie McGonigle saw him cross a low ball in and somehow Jamie Glackin screwed his shot wide at the near post. Both sides at time struggled with the wind but it was Crusaders who took the lead on 20 minutes. Jordan Stewart won a corner and from that Ross Clarke corner Jordan Stewart rose at the edge of the six yard box and directed his header over Max Little in nets and into the far corner and it was 1-0 Crusaders. This gave Crusaders confidence and they pushed and made life difficult for Coleraine resulting in a second goal on 29 minutes. A defensive mistake by Cameron Stewart saw Kieran Offord hunt down the ball and after getting past keeper Max Little and then Cameron Stewart trying to foul him he rolled the ball into an empty net and Crusaders where two up. Coleraine turned the screw but could not deal with the windy conditions and the game then fell into a dogged affair. On 42 minutes Johnny Tuffey made a good stop from Jamie McGonigle and as the half came to an end Coleraines Rhyss Campbell hit the bar for the second time when his free header came off the bar with Johnny Tuffey stuck to the spot.
Crusaders had a good start to the second half and a Ross Clarke cross was nearly put into his own net by Lyndon Kane. Coleraine knew they had to have a go and the first real chance they had was a Dean Jarvis free kick over the bar. Both sides again went toe to toe without either taking command and the the closest either came was a Harry Jewitt-White shot that went wide. Coleraine pulled a goal back on 76 minutes when a Dean Jarvis cross was met by Matthew Shevlin who headed home without any pressure to make it 2-1. Coleraine where reduced to 10 men on 79 minutes when Kyle McCelland as last man pulled Kieran Offord down after Kieran had pounced on another defensive mistake and as he went to do a carbon copy of his first goal the defender came in high and deserved his second yellow and the red. Colearine with nothing to lose really came at Crusaders and piled all the pressure on. Matthew Shevlin missed a good chance with his head as the 90 minutes closed in but in time added on Johnny Tuffey was the hero with a good save from Kyle Spence that he held followed by a finger tip save from Kyle Spence again. The drama still was not over as the corner came in and after a scramble it was Ross Clarke who stuck a leg out and put a goal bound shot past the post. Within seconds the referee had blown the whistle and the three points where heading back to North Belfast.
A massive massive win and a good performance will please Declan Caddell no end but everything turns now to prepare for Dungannon Swifts at Seaview next Saturday.