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JJB Irish Cup 5th Round Sat 12th Jan 2008

Armagh City v Crusaders

A thoroughly professional performance sent the Crues fans home happy and satisfied with a job well done and a safe passage into the 6th round of the Irish Cup. Crusaders started the match they way they played most of it, in total control. Their first attempt came as early as the 2nd minute when Davy Rainey passed (yes you read that right...) to Darren Lockhart but his shot went just wide of the post. Most of the play in the first quarter of a n hour was in the Armagh half and Crues kept up the pressure when a Stephen McBride free kick was well headed down by Seamus Brown to Chris Morrow but his shot didn't force a save out of Stuart Addis in the Armagh net. On 20 minutes the Crues took a deserved lead when Eamon Doherty did well down the right, found Lockhart who side footed it to Brown in front of goal and he made no mistake blasting it high into the net scoring his first goal for Crusaders. Just 2 minutes later Brown doubled the score when he met a McBride cross with a powerful header to give Addis no chance. Philip Hamilton (SEC Secretary) remarked that this could be start of a rout...would he be proved right? Brown could have completed a hat-trick a minute later when Rainey found him with a quickly taken free kick but his shot on the turn went wide. A few 'distinguished' Crues fans jumped up with a premature celebration thinking Crusaders had extended their lead when a McBride cross dropped just over the bar. The Crues nearly did go 3 up when a corner was headed on by Lockhart was met by Morrow but his touch took the ball just wide again. Rainey was next to go close when in typical fashion he beat a couple of defenders but his good work was matched by a great save save by Addis. The whistle blew for half time and the only surprise was that Crusaders went in only 2 goals to the good.

Half time Armagh City 0 - 2 Crusaders

The 2nd half picked up where the first left off with Crusaders controlling possession. Despite this the first chance of the half fell to Armagh when a strong header across goal was well saved by Aaron Kerr. In the 63rd minute Barry Spence took a free kick from deep out to Rainey on the left who turned the ball nicely into the path of Eamon Doherty who made no mistake from close range. Rainey and Morrow combined well with a neat one two and Morrow found himself one on one with the keeper but his final touch was to strong and Addis was able to save. Colin Coates (sporting natty handwear) nearly got his name on the score sheet when his fine header floated just wide. Anto Crawford, returning for his second spell with Crusaders and Eamon McAllister came on for Brown and Gary Smyth. Crusaders made it 4 when the irrepressible Rainey again beat some defenders and again laid it on for Doherty to tap in his second of the day. Armagh pulled one back when a free kick from the right was headed into the corner of the net. The silence was deafening. The move of the game led to the Crues 5th goal. McAllister flicked the ball through a defenders legs wide on the right he ran on and whipped in a perfectly weighted cross for Rainey to volley home from 12 yards without breaking stride. Crusaders still weren't satisfied and went looking for more. A Crawford cross was just missed by the outstretched Rainey. The final whistle blew and no Crues fan could complain about a great team performance and great result.

Full time Armagh City 1 - 5 Crusaders

Team

1: Kerr; 2: Spence; 3: McBride; 4: Doherty; 5: Smyth (McAllister 74); 6: Coates; 7: Morrow; 8: Lockhart; 9: Brown (Crawford 74); 10: Rainey; 11: Coulter

Referee : Adrian McCourt

Other reports:

Portadown v Crusaders Sat 5th Jan 2008

Crusaders v Cliftonville 26th Dec 2007

Glentoran v Crusaders 15th December 2007

Crusaders v Glenavon 11th December 2007

Newry v Crusaders 1st December 2007

Crusaders v Coleraine 24th November 2007

Institute v Crusaders 10th November 2007

Crusaders v Glentoran C.I.S. Semi Final 6/11/07

Crusaders v Donegal Celtic Sat 3rd Nov 2007

Larne v Crusaders 27/10/07 Report