Striker Jay Boyd stepped up today when it was needed and helped Crusaders take a massive step towards home adavantage in the European playoffs in a few weeks. A hat trick helped Crusaders secure a 3-0 win over Coleraine at Seaview and Jay was the man of the moment with a great performance.
The game was 27 seconds old when he got his first. He managed to get in front of the Coleraine defender and under pressure hit his shot across Rory Brown in the Coleraine goal before hitting the inside of the side netting and putting Crusaders ahead. The two sides traded blows but as the half progressed Coleraine begain to get the upper hand and put the Crusaders defence under immense scrutiny and they held up magnificently. Every player stood up to task and defended for their lives with perfectly timed tackles, blocks and clearances so much so Johnny Tuffey in goals had very little to do. On the occasions Crusaders broke free they did threaten but never doubled their lead before half time.
Crusaders gathered themselves at half time and the game became an even affair. Passages of play from both sides where not successful but Crusaders started to get success and built on it. In the 55th minute Crusaders doubled their lead when an attempted Jamie Glackin clearance fell to Jay Boyd perfectly and he made no mistake rifling the ball past Rory Brown for his second of the game. Coleraine did not have any answers and Cruisaders dominated from there on in. Coleraine made multiple substitutions but could not change the flow of the game and with five minutes left Jay Boyd got his third of the game. Josh O'Connor jinked his way into the box before being pushed over and refereee Evan Boyce had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The ball was given to Jay Boyd who calmly sent the keeper the wrong way and the game was safe and Jay had a ball to go home with.
So a 3-0 victory and all roads head to Stangmore Park next week where Crusaders play Dungannon Swifts and a chance to secure the important fourth placed spot ahead of the play offs.