Despite losing the first pre season game of the season 4-1 to Welsh side The New Saints at Seaview Stephen Baxter will be pleased to see some good football played and several decent performances by his team.
Despite only having had two sessions together since returning from five weeks off Crusaders did well against the Welsh Champions and where a match for them for large parts of the game. The New Saints started strongly and where 2-0 up within 15 minutes with Ash Baker and Gwion Daydd scoring close range goals. Crusaders battled well and Paul Heatley and Jordan went close before Ben Kennedy scored from the spot on 38 minutes after Philip Lowry was fouled leaving it 2-1 at the break.
Crusaders made two changes at half time and continued to trouble the The New Saints but could not get on level terms. On the hour Crusaders made another four changes while the visitors virtually changed their team in one go. This gave them a new sharpness and as Crusaders players gelled for the first time as new team mates bedded in The New Saints went on to score two further goals through Declan McManus and Jordan Williams to seal the game 4-1 at the whistle.
A good work out with lots of positives and Stephen Baxter will now have time to get the team fitter and faster over the next ten days before the White Ribbon Charity Shield game at Inver Park on Monday 1st July.