Crusaders are through to the Europa Conference League 2nd Qualifying Round after a dramatic night at Seaview. Trailing 2-1 from the 1st Leg Crusaders bombarded the Magpies goal but the breakthrough was a while happening.
The visitors where warned about time wasting from as early as the sixth minute and their play acting was also noted. The deadlock was broken on 33 minutes when Paul Heatley scored from close range after goalkeeper Matthew Silva had made two good saves from Billy Joe Burns but was helpless when Paul popped up. Crusaders where rocked four minutes later when Mapies scored from a breakaway with Kyle Casciaro touching in. Crusaders where left frustrated at half time as they continued to pepper the Magpies goal but got nothing from it.
The second half saw Adam Lecky replace Jordan Owens and Magpies had a new problem to deal with. An early chance for Adam came at him to quick but the half developed like the first with Crusaders pushing on and Magpies picking up half chances and time wasting again. An inspired double substitution turned game on its head. Jude Winchester replaced Philip Lowry and Johnny McMurray replaced Ross Clarke and within a minute Crusaders where ahead. Good work by Johnny McMurray saw the ball land to Jude Winchester and his superbly placed shot curled past Silva and it was 2-1 Crusaders on the night and 3-3 on aggregate. Magpies where struggling to hold on at this point and when the fourth official put up nine minutes added time you could see them worry. Crusaders had different plans and three minutes into time added on the ball fell to Billy Joe Burns who volleyed the ball high into the corner of the net and it fell just inside the goal line and Crusaders led in the 2 legs for the first time. Magpies had nothing left and on the whistle the Seaview crowd went wild and another memorable European night was complete.
We now look forward to a 2nd Qualifying Round against FC Basel with the away leg first on the 21st and home leg 28th.
What a night and a massive thank you for a brilliant support.