Report By Glenn Kelly
Crusaders ran out resounding 2-0 winners over Linfield in an entertaining Belfast Derby at Seaview on Tuesday night.
Having made just two changes from the side that saw out a gritty 0-0 draw with Larne at the weekend, Crusaders looked the more threatening side throughout, Jordan Forsythe putting them in front for his 50th Crusaders goal, heading home from a Ross Clarke corner. Not to be undone, Philip Lowry marked his 250th Crusaders appearance with a thunderbolt drive from 25 yards in the 59th minute for his 14th goal of the campaign. Linfield manager David Healy was missing from the visitors bench as he is serving a touchline ban, however, he would have hoped for a reversal of the scoreline the last time the teams met at Seaview in September when Crusaders ran out 2-1 winners. However, Stephen Baxter’s men did not give the Blues time to settle with Forsythe opening the scoring on six minutes. Clarke delivered a trademark corner from the right and Forsythe rose highest to smash in a header off the underside of the bar to make it 1-0 much to the delight of the home crowd. Linfield battled to get back into the game with Eetu Vertainen coming closest with a drive from the edge of the area that rose beyond the right upright. It was the home side however who threatened most, Adam Lecky turning and volleying from the right side of the box, producing a super stop from Christoper Johns in the Linfield goal.
Both sides failed to register and it ended 1-0 to the hosts at half time.
Crusaders’ dominance only grew in the second half with the Linfield players cutting despondent and frustrated figures at times. Crusaders were happy to absorb pressure and play on the counter attack, always threatening with set pieces. Top club scorer Lowry brought the crowd to its feet in the 59th minute to break Linfield hearts. Jarlath O’Rourke aimed a throw-in at Lecky on the edge of the area, the big striker laid the ball into the path of Lowry and from 25 yards the 33 year-old made no mistake, sending a torpedo shot into the left hand corner of the Linfield goal to make it 2-0. Linfield should have responded in the 74th minute when the ball was played across the edge of the Crues six-yard-box, only for substitute Ethan Devine to send the ball well over and onto the Shore Road. Linfield enjoyed the better of the closing stages but never really threatened Jonny Tuffey. The final whistle brought a thunderous reception from the home crowd who have not given up hope on collecting the Gibson trophy just yet.