Crusaders tonight got back to winning ways when they defeated Coleraine away 2-1 and stepped back into the top three in the Danske Bank Premiership. Goals from McCauley Snelgrove and Philip Lowry in the opening fifteen minutes and then a super defensive display in the second half saw Crusaders go back down the road with three points and in positive form.
The game was only 48 seconds old and Crusaders where in the lead. Coleraine defender Lyndon Kanes attempted header back to his keeper fell short and McCauley Snelgrove smashed the ball home from 14 yards and Crusaders led. Crusaders continued tp ress forward and deservedly went further ahead on 14 minutes. Good work by Adam Lecky near the bye line saw him pass to Jude Winchester and his pass fell to Philip Lowry who scored Crusaders second and also his 50th goal for Crusaders in 238 games. Ross Clarke could have made it 3-0 just minutes later but he just did not get the right connection at the back post and the ball went wide. Coleraine finally started to get into the game and hit the side netting on 21 minutes but Jude Winchester and Philip Lowry chances came and went as Crusaders pinned them back. Philip Lowry had a header saved on 37 minutes and on Coleraines next attack they got a corner from which they scored. Stephen O'Donnell was quickest to react from the corner and he rushed in and scored from a few yards out at the near post to make it Coleraine 1 Crusaders 2. Crusaders where dealt a blow with a few minutes left in the half when Chris Hegarty was forced off with an injury with Lewis Barr replacing him.
The second half as expected saw Coleraine put Crusaders on the backfoot but the defence was superb to a man. Gary Thompson and Johnny McMurray replaced Robbie Weir and McCauley Snelgrove as Coleraine pushed forward.and they did a fantastic job. Coleraine attacked time and time again but they where stopped by by Crusaders defence. Crusaders though did get their chances and Lewis Barr was not far away with a header from a free kick. Daniel Larmour made a good tackle in his own box as Coleraine shouted for a penalty and Crusaders made another double substitution with Jordan Owens and Dean Ebbe replacing Adam Lecky and Jude Winchester who had both put in a great shift. Johnny Tuffey again reacted to a deflected shot to keep Crusaders ahead before another smashing save from Jamie Glackin to keep it 2-1 to Crusaders. Coleraine claimed for another penalty but Crusaders countered from it and Dean Ebbes shot was deflected wide for a corner. From that corner Coleraine countered on Crusaders but their defence got back to clear. Despite whatever Coleraine threw at Crusaders in the final minutes they stood strong and on the whistle it was a 2-1 win for the visitors and third place in the Danske Bank Premiership.
So a good win on the road and a great team performance from front to back. Next up is the visit of Ballymena United next Monday night in front of Sky Sports TV cameras and a chance to showcase Irish League football to Europe.