Crusaders On Cloud Nine As They Go On A "Goalfest" Against Carrick Rangers

It was cloud number nine for Crusaders as Ben Kennedy grabbed four goals in a 9-0 demolition of visitors Carrick Rangers at Seaview. Paul Heatley and Kennedy’s four goals made it five at the break before Philip Lowry added a sixth, with captain BJ Burns, Jimmy Callacher and James Teelan also scoring to complete a memorable victory and move second in the table.

Both sides had opportunities to open the scoring in the opening ten minutes but it was Crusaders who broke the deadlock in the 11th minute. Captain Billy Joe Burns with an improvised scoop over the Carrick defence was latched onto by the tearaway Paul Heatley and the winger rounded keeper Ross Glendinning before sliding the ball home into the empty net to make it 1-0. Just two minutes later the same duo were at it again but this time though Paul Heatley’s goal was chalked off for offside. What happened in the following 23 minutes was a demolition job of the highest order.  Beginning in the 21st minute Ben Kennedy got his first of the night.  An agricultural overhead hook through by Adam Lecky was chased onto by the number eight who controlled on the edge of the area before stroking a superb finish high into the top left hand corner of the Carrick goal. Just four minutes later Ben Kennedy slotted home a spot-kick after he had been pushed in the box by Kyle Cherry who saw red from the referee to leave the East Antrim side in a deluge of pain. A Superb hat-trick was completed soon after. A knock back from Adam Lecky was smashed home on the volley from all of 25-yards to send the home crowd into hysteria. Ben Kennedy wasn’t finished and got his fourth within a stunning 19 minute goal-fest.  Jarlath O’Rourke crossed low from the left, Paul Heatley provided the step-over before the ex-Stevenage man smashed high into the goal from six yards to make it 5-0.

Whatever Stuart King said to his side at half-time sadly did not have the desired effect.  Within two minutes of the restart it was six.  Adam Lecky was again influential with a short flick into the area and it was Philip Lowry this time getting on the end of it to poke home into the bottom right corner. On 54 minutes it was 7-0.  This time Ben Kennedy turned provider with a swinging cross to the back post where Billy Joe Burns crashed home a header, Carrick Rangers by this stage were punch drunk and ready for a count-out. Nine minutes later Jimmy Callacher got in on the act with his first goal for the Crues  when a trademark corner from Ross Clarke was met by the ex-Linfield man to add his side’s eighth of the evening. The Hatchetmen were not done there.  Substitute James Teelan got in on the act with a smart low volley following another Ross Clarke corner to make it nine and tear the hearts from the Carrick Rangers player’s chests.

Crusaders: Tuffey, Burns, Callacher, Lowry (Winchester), B Kennedy (Anderson), Lecky, Forsythe (Weir), O'Rourke, Larmour, Heatley (Teelan), McKeown (Clarke) .

Subs: Williamson, Weir, Teelan, Owens, Winchester, Clarke, Anderson.

Carrick Rangers:  Ross Glendinning, Forsythe, Stewart, Surgenor, Cushley (McGuckin), Allen (Andrews), Crowe, Cherry, Reece Glendinning, Purkis (Maciulaitis), Tilney

Subs: McCauley, McGuckin, Maciulaitis, Buchanan-Rolleston, Montgomery, Andrews, Withers.