Glentoran

1

Crusaders

2

CRUES GO FOUR POINTS CLEAR

17th Jan 2015

Crusaders moved four points clear at the top of the table after a hard fought 2-1 defeat of Glentoran at The Oval.

The Crues moved in front after 16 minutes after Jordan Owens headed the ball down for Timmy Adamson to fire low and hard into the net from the left side of the area.

Billy Joe Burns came close to doubling the lead late in the first half only to head over from point blank range despite being unmarked.

But it was 2-0 on 44 minutes after Paul Heatley saw his shot deflected past his own 'keeper by defender Calum Birney.

Glentoran reduced the deficit eight minutes into the second half after Jordan Stewart made the most of some slack defending to face down Sean O'Neill one-on-one and finish with composure.

Danny McKee almost levelled for the Glens a quarter-of-an-hour later only to fire straight at Sean O'Neill from close range while a Stewart lob a little after that sailed just over the target.

McKee came even closer as the game crept into the closing ten minutes when he hit the woodwork but despite coming under some considerable pressure the Crues held on to claim the points.

Glentoran: Morris, Kane, Birney, Scullion, Stewart, Henderson, McAlorum, Addis, Gordon, McKee, Holland subs McCaffrey (replaced Stewart 90), Allen (replaced Birney 83), McCullough (not used), Kerr (not used), Hogg (not used)

Crusaders: O'Neill, Burns, Hanley, Coates, Robinson, Caddell, Clarke, Whyte, Heatley, Adamson, Owens subs Friars (not used), Molloy (replaced Whyte 73), O'Hanlon (not used), O'Carroll (replaced Adamson 87), O'Flynn (replaced Owens 90+2)

Referee: Raymond Crangle

Attendance: 1500

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