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Crusaders v Glentoran
5th April 2008
From the sublime to the ridiculous. Crusaders were as bad today as they were
good in their last match against the other Glens. Reports about the first
twenty minutes are a bit sketchy (I was still in the shop). I heard from a
good source (BBC Radio Ulster) that the Glens were awarded a penalty for
handball. Aaron Kerr saved to deny the Glens and would it be folly to think
that this just might be the Crues' day !!!!. The match was played in
difficult conditions with a strong wind in the backs of Glentoran in the
first half. Glentoran had the lion's share of possession and a scramble in
the Crues box was eventually cleared before a Glens player could get a
telling contact on it. Glens pressure eventually told when Kerr came to
punch a clearance but it fell to Fitzgerald 25 yards out. He struck it well
low and hard and intro the right corner of the net. Tony Gorman took free
kick which he hit, as usual, with great power but it was rising all the time
and was too high by the time it whistled over the bar. Darren Lockhart fell
awkwardly and damaged his ankle and had to replaced by Jordan Owens. On the
stroke of half time Glentoran went two up when the Crues failed to clear a
ball and Fitzgerald beat Kerr to get his second of the day.
Half time Crusaders 0 - 2 Glentoran
Stephen McBride also picked up a bit of a knock and was replaced by Stephen
Hyndes at half time. Crusaders came close when a goal bound shot by Eamon
McAllister was headed clear. Apart from this Crusaders were not able to
create much from increased possession in the second half half. Glentoran, on
60 minutes, broke clear and faced one on one Kerr made a good save. The ball
rebounded out to a Glens striker but his shot was cleared off the line by an
alert Davy Magowan. It was tough going for spectators with neither side
producing much football worthy of note. Glentoran should have added to their
goal tally when Gary Hamilton headed down a cross but the resulting shot was
high wide and not very handsome. The final whistle came as a blessed relief
and we can only hope for better as we take on our local rivals from the
Cliftonville Road in our next outing.
Full time Crusaders 0 - 2 Glentoran
Team
1:Kerr 2:Magowan 3:McBride (45 Hyndes) 4:Doherty 5:Smyth 6:Coates
7:McAllister 8:Lockhart (43 Owens) 9:Gorman (62 Crawford) 10:Rainey
11:Morrow Other
Reports
Glenavon v Crusaders Tue 25th Mar
2008
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