ICrusaders fell to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Carrick Rangers on Saturday in a game that saw defensive lapses costing them the game. They where never ahead in game with seven goals and it will be back to the drawing board come training on Monday.
Crusaders quickly found themselves 2-0 down within the first 15 minutes when Curtis Allen reacted quickest at a Rangers corner and hooked the ball high into the net. David Cushley doubled Rangers tally on 15 minutes when he jumped on a defensive mistake and slotted the ball past Johnny Tuffey. Crusaders finally got going and Paul Heatley pulled a goal back on 27 minutes when his shot deceived Ross Glendinning and it was 2-1. Crusaders pushed on and where in control and they ato get the equaliser in time added on of the first half. Ross Clarke lobbed a ball into the penalty area and it went over everyone into the net and it was 2-2 at the break.
It was Curtis Allen who put Rangers ahead again on 54 minutes from another corner when he nipped in ahead of a Crusaders defender to put the ball in the net. This stirred Crusaders and Philip Lowry stepped up just two minutes later to equalise when he headed home a good cross to score his sixth goal in six games and it was 3-3. Rangers though came back at Crusaders and this time Emmett McGuickin was the man who got away from his marker and stuck the ball past Johnny Tuffey to make it 4-3. Both sides traded chances but the game ended with Crusaders down to 10 men after Paul Heatley was sent off for violent play with minutes remaining
So beaten for the second time this season Crusaders will dust themselves down and prepare for next Friday nights North Belfast Derby