Crusaders bowed out of the League Cup this evening after a 2-1 defeat to Portadown at Shamrock Park.
There was nothing to report for the opening 10 minutes but the game burst into life a minute later when Kenny Kane got in behind the Crusaders defence after Josh Robinson made a mistake and he held his nerve to shoot past Johnny Tuffey and put Portadown ahead. It was nearly two for Portadown minutes later but Johnny Tuffey was up to Ryan Mayses shot and again soon after only a massive miss by Eoin Bradley saved Crusaders being three down in the first 16 minutes. Jude Winchester went close and Aaron Hogg smothered the ball in a goal mouth scramble as Crusaders got closer. Crusaders got back on level terms on 23 minutes when Mikhail Kennedy scored after determined work by Lloyd Anderson set the goal up and it was game back on. Ross Clarke went close with a free kick that Aaron Hogg tipped over and James Teelen shot wide but Crusaders could not get that important goal. Portadown also had a few testers and it was Johnny Tuffey who had to make a smart save five minutes before half time to keep it level. As the half came to and end shouts for a Crusaders penalty was turned down leaving it 1-1 at the break.
Ben Kennedy replaced James Teelan for the second half and the half time team talk had Crusaders out quickly putting pressure on the Portadowns defence. The defence stood strong and did not crumble as Crusaders gave it everything but the breakthrough did not come. Portadown could have gone ahead on 67 minutes but a bad touch as they made a counter attack caused the move to break down. Crusaders made a triple substitution with Jordan Owens, Robbie Weir and Jordan Forsythe coming on but Crusaders where rocked moments later when Eamon Fyfe got in behind the Crusaders defence to calmly slot the ball under Johnny Tuffey and put Portadown 2-1 ahead. Stephen Baxter swapped Billy Joe Burns for Josh Robinson in one last throw of the dice buut again Portadown did well. Aaron Hogg made a good double save on 79 minutes and again on 86 minutes tipped the ball away from goal as the minutes ticked away. Two late free kicks for Crusaders did not get the equalizer and again it was Aaron Hogg who made an important save from the second one from Ben Kennedys shot that eventually won the game for Portadown 2-1 and progress in the cup.
Out of the Cup sadly but attention turns to Saturday and the visit to Loughgall in the Sports Direct Premiership and a big response.