Crusaders put Tuesday defeat to bed very quickly as they stormed to victory over Coleraine at the Coleraine Showgrounds today. Four goals without reply made it a good away day for players, staff and supporters and they move into fourth in the Sports Direct Premiership table.
The day did not start well with Robbie Weir pulling up in the warm up and he was replaced by Lloyd Anderson. After an early Coleraine shot that went wide Crusaders took hold of the game and caused trouble with nearly every attack. Lloyd Anderson went close with a header on seven minutes but Crusaders went a step further on 14 minutes. A good passage of play saw Adam Lecky do well on the touchline before Paul Heatley dummied Leckys cross and when the ball fell to Philip Lowry 25 yards out and his low rifled shot flew into the bottom corner of the net leaving Marty Gallagher no chance. Crusaders pushed on but the closest they came was a Paul Heatley shot that went over after good work by Lloyd Anderson. Coleraine rallied for a few minutes after the half hour mark but did not trouble Johnny Tuffey and the closest anyone came to scoring was a Lyndon Kane header that his own keeper had to save as the half ended 1-0 to Crusaders.
Paul Heatley was denied a goal with a fine save by Marty Gallagher four minutes into the second half while Billy Joe Burns headed the resulting corner wide. Paul Heatley then threaded a ball through for Ben Kennedy but it was just to strong for Kennedy to finish while Lloyd Anderson shot over and wide from a great position while Ben Kennedy headed over a great Ross Clarke from a good position just after the hour mark. On seventy minutes Billy Joe Burns was unlucky when he attempted a looped shot from a tight angle but Gallagher was up to it and saved. Lloyd Anderson just missed connecting with a Billy Joe Burns pass while the same player had a great effort saved by Gallagher just two minutes later. Crusaders went on a goal spree in the last ten minutes of the game as they flexed their muscles. It was 2-0 on eighty one minutes when Ben Kennedy slotted home from fourteen yards after Paul Heatley knocked down Adam Leckys flick on from Johnny Tuffeys kick to create a great move. Crusaders where in full flow now and it was 3-0 on eighty seven minutes when good inter play by Ben Kennedy and Adam Lecky saw the latter cross the ball and Daniel Larmour scored a header at the back post. Crusaders then made it worse for Oran Kearney in time added on when Jarlath O'Rourke made it 4-0 when a great turn in the box and equally good shot flew by Marty Gallagher to leave the final score Coleraine 0 Crusaders 5.
So an outstanding result and a “near perfect” performance as Crusaders get back in the groove. Next up is a trip to Milltown on Tuesday night to play Warrenpoint Town in the League Cup and we do hope you can make it.