Crusaders are through to the second round of the BetMcLean Cup after beating Ballyclare Comrades 3-2 at Dixon Park this evening. As the scoreline suggests it was tight affair with Crusaders having the majority of the first and Ballyclare Comrades large parts of the second half.
The game started with both sides creating chances but it was Crusaders who where the more likely to score but they couldn't break the Ballyclare Comrades defence or keeper. Ballyclare Comrades came into the game and sent a few warning shots to Crusaders that they wanted to go “toe to toe” with them. It payed off for Ballyclare on 20 minutes when Cillin Gilmour rose highest at a corner and his header went past Johnny Tuffey making it 1-0 to the home side. The goal only riled Crusaders and they where level just four minutes later. A good ball over the top sent Harry Franklin on a run and his low cross along the six yard line fell to Stewart Nixon and he slotted into an empty net at the back post leaving it 1-0. Crusaders pushed and pushed but again the Ballyclare Comrades defence held out but two goals in two minutes suddenly changed the tie. On 40 minutes Lewis Barr sent Harry Franklin on his way to goal with a good ball and as Liam Hassin shielded the ball by getting in between Harry Franklin and Gerard Walker in nets there was misscommunication with the keeper and Liam Hassin poked the ball past Gerard Walker into an empty net and Crusaders where 2-1 ahead. Just one minute later a carbon copy ball from Lewis Barr to Harry Franklin this time reached Harry directly and he smashed the ball past Gerard Walker making it 3-1 and that's how the half ended.
The second half started with Ballyclare obviously prepared to give it a real go to get back into the game. Crusaders soaked up the pressure and made several counterattacks that should have produced a better result. Ballyclare Comrades kept at the task and Johnny Tuffey was in the right place to make sure the score stayed at 3-1. Ballyclare Comrades did get a goal back on 70 minutes to set up a grandstand finish when Conor Burns finally got the ball past Johnny Tuffey and at 3-2 it was game on in the eyes of the home side. Crusaders rallied again and should have made the game safe but that crucial goal did not come. As the game entered additional time there was one last “heart in the mouth” moment when an attempted clearance by James Teelan came off his knee and crashed off his own crossbar and away for a corner but the referee belw seconds later and Crusaders had progressed.
So through to the next round and they await the draw too see who they play next in November. It is back to the mainstream stuff though on Saturday again when Coleraine come to Seaview in the Sports Direct Premiership.