An injury laden Crusaders went down 3-1 to Larne at Seaview this evening in a game they could and should have deserved more from. Down to the bones with players playing with injuries the team went out to do their best against Larne who had to fight back after a poor loss on Saturday. Larne battered Crusaders in the opening 20 minutes with Andy Ryan missing several big chances and they eventually went down to a controversial goal six minutes from half time. Tomas Cosgrove looped a header over a congested six yard box and Jarlath O'Rourke cleared it off the line only for the assistant ref to say it was over the line. This prompted an angry and frustrated reaction from the home side but the goal stood. Crusaders calmed and they deservedly equalised in time added on in the first half when a Stewart Nixon cross landed at the feet of Jacob Blaney at the back post and he smashed the ball into the net to send his side into the dressing room 1-1.
The second half was much more level affair but it was Larne who took the lead again on 53 minutes when Levi Ives met a cross perfectly and his bullet header went high past Johnny Tuffey into the net. Crusaders tried to get back into the game and Stewart Nixon had a great chance to equalise but just could not connect properly and it felll easily for Rohan Ferguson in the Larne net. The game got fragmented from there with both sides picking up yellow cards and as the 90 minutes closed in Philip Lowry had his chance to get an equaliser but shot wide with Larne breathing a huge sigh of relief. In the last minute of the 6 additional minutes after the 90 Larne secured the points when a Dylan Sloan cross hit Jimmy Callacher and the defender couldn't do anything as the ball went into the net. On the whistle it ended 3-1 and Crusaders despite a great effort where beaten.
The focus now shifts to Saturday and the visit of Dungannon Swifts to Seaview and a chance to get back to winning ways.