Irish Premiership
Crusaders 2 – 1 Bangor FT
Owen Wardell’s late gorgeous strike was sufficient to see Crusaders overcome Bangor 2-1 at Seaview.
The breakthrough arrived within the sixteenth minute when Aaron Reid steered Crusaders into the lead on the close to publish, ending off a flowing transfer down the left.
Commercial
Bangor responded strongly after the interval and equalised by means of Ben Arthurs, who rose highest to nod in a deflected effort, earlier than Wardell settled the competition seven minutes from time with a surprising strike that crashed in off the publish.
The end result means the Crues have now taken 12 factors from 15 at residence this season, whereas Bangor will hope to bounce again after they host Coleraine subsequent.
Crues spectacular residence kind continues
After a cagey opening quarter of an hour, the house aspect carved out the primary clear probability of the afternoon when Elliot Dunlop’s whipped supply from the left discovered the surging run of Reid, just for the frontman’s header to be expertly blocked by Allie Mitchell.
Commercial
The guests did not heed the warning, and it took barely sixty seconds for the impasse to be damaged.
Graham Kelly launched Ryan McKay down the left flank, and the Linfield loanee discovered Reid on the close to publish; the striker did the remainder, steering the ball past a helpless Gareth Deane with the deftest of finishes.
Because the half-time interval approached, Declan Caddell’s males nearly prolonged their lead in first-half damage time when Donal Rocks’ speculative strike from distance took a depraved deflection off the again of Reid, looping menacingly in direction of aim and forcing an excellent, back-pedalling fingertip save from Deane.
Bangor got here out with renewed intent after the restart, they usually nearly drew stage immediately when Tiarnan Mulvenna pounced on a unfastened clearance simply contained in the penalty space, although the midfielder couldn’t hold his effort on track.
Commercial
The probabilities stored coming, and simply shy of the hour mark Harry Lynch was afforded time and house 25 yards out; his dipping effort appeared destined for the highest nook till Shea Callister sprang throughout his aim line to protect the house aspect’s lead.
That warning proved short-lived, the Seasiders drawing stage eight minutes later when Mulvenna pulled the ball again for Iestyn Hughes, his shot taking an enormous deflection off McKay and looping into the trail of Arthurs, who rose to nod it over a stranded Callister.
Simply because it appeared as if the sport would end stage, Wardell stepped up with a surprising effort to say all three factors for the Crues.
Chopping in from the precise and discovering no strain from the Bangor backline, the winger took purpose for the far publish from 25 yards out, the ball crashing again off the publish and nestling into the again of the online.