Crusaders are through to the Semi Final of the Toalsbet.com Co.Antrim Shield tonight after beating Linfield 3-1 at Seaview. The team as a collective where superb all over the field and goals from Harry Franklin and a double from Jarlath O'Rourke secured the win and progression to the next round.
The game could not have got off to a better start when Crusaders went ahead after 2 minutes. Good work by Kieran Offord and then a cross from Ross Clarke saw the ball cleared by Chris Shields. Kieran Offord and Ross Clarke combined again and this time the cross was perfect for Harry Franklin to beat Ethan McGee in the air and he headed home at the back post. This put Crusaders on the front foot and they took the game by the scruff giving Linfield very little to work with. The only chance Linfield really in the first half hour was a shot by Kalum Thompson that was well saved by Ryan Kerr in the Crusaders net. Crusaders very nearly went two ahead when Jarlath O'Rourke headed a Ross Clarke cross into the danger area but Jordan Stewart headed just over against his former club. On 38 minutes though it was 2-0 to Crusaders and what a good goal it was. There was another good build up and after a Ross Clarke cross was half cleared Josh Williamson won the ball and passed to Jordan Stewart who in turn put the ball in the path of Jarlath O'Rourke who then struck a beautiful right foot shot past David Walsh to send the home support wild. With nothing else to report the half ended 2-0 to Crusaders.
Linfield tried to come out and get back into the tie quickly but it was Crusaders who had the first real chance of the second half when Josh Williamsons shot was brilliantly saved by David Walsh's leg after Kirk Millar had slipped to set Josh Williamsons chance up. There then was a delay in the half as young Linfield player Kalum Thompson was treated on the pitch for an injury before being stretchered off with the best wishes of everyone in Seaview for a speedy recovery. Linfield where then handed a route back into the game when Jimmy Callacher was harshly judged to have fouled Matthew Fitzpatrick inside the box and Chris Shields stepped up and sent Ryan Kerr the wrong way after 76 minutes. Crusaders though where not finished and restored their two goal lead when an attempted Linfield clearance came off Jarlath O'Rourke and went past the flatfooted David Walsh to make it 3-1. Linfield came back at Crusaders again and where nearly caught out when Jordan Stewarts long range effort beat David Walsh but also the wrong side of the post. In injury time bewteen Ryan Kerr and the defence they cleared a Jacob Farr effort but they could do nothing about Liam Burns free kick from 18 yards as he put it past both the wall and keeper to ake it 3-2 in the 94th minute. Two minutes later the referee blew his whistle and Crusaders had made it to the next round.
So a good win and we now play Larne in the Semi Final at Inver Park on Tuesday 12th November. The game will now be parked and the focus will be placed on Saturdays Sports Direct Premiership game against Linfield at Seaview in the second game between the sides in five days.