Report By Glenn Kelly
Crusaders fell to a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Glentoran after a controversial disallowed Ben Kennedy goal. David Fisher opened the scoring for Glentoran in the first-half, before Kennedy’s goal was ruled out in the second period. Soon after Stewart Nixon grabbed a deserved equaliser before Bobby Burns stole a winner in the final minute to move the Glens clear of Crusaders in fourth. Crusaders remain fifth and now have a two-week break before they travel to Stangmore Park to face Dungannon Swifts.
With both sides looking to make a statement from the outset, it was the home team that threatened the scoreboard first. A Ross Clarke delivery from the right picked out Jordan Owens in the middle of the area, but the veteran’s header went just over. Owens then had a shout for a penalty four minutes later. Defender Aidan Wilson had his hands around the striker’s waist as he went to connect with the delivery and Owens fell to the ground with his teammates claiming a penalty, however referee Tim Marshall waved away the protests. From being denied at one end, the Crues conceded at the other on 10 minutes. Aidan Wilson with a monster throw-in from the right-hand touchline that floated all the way into the home side’s six-yard area, where Fisher was on hand to neatly tuck a volley home into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The visitor’s confidence grew at this point and striker Junior twice went close before the tempo of the game eased as half-time approached.
After a slow start to the second period, the Glens could have doubled their lead on 65 minutes. BJ Burns was caught out with a through-ball which Fisher latched onto before shooting from an acute angle which rebounded off Jonny Tuffey’s left hand post, much to the relief of the Crusaders faithful. Recent signing for Stephen Baxter’s team Nixon came to the fore from this point on, with one attempt on goal that struck the post and then on 76 minutes an inviting cross for Ben Kennedy who thought he had headed the Crues level, but Marshall blew his whistle to call the game back for a foul. The equaliser did finally come on 82 mins. Jordan Forsythe With the cross from wide right into the box and that man Nixon was on hand to drill low into the goal from eight yards. Just as Crusaders thought they had a point in the bag, Feeney’s side struck back. A delightful through-ball from substitute Jay Donnelly send Bobby Burns through on goal and he delightfully lifted the ball into the goal beyond Tuffey in goal to clinch the winner.