Macca

Ray Warren is not around !

Defensive coach anyone?

Crusaders tonight ripped Linfield apart in front of Live Sky Sports cameras at The National Stadium with a 5-2 win in the Danske Bank Premiership. It is a game that will live long in the memory of those watching as Crusaders where just to good for the home side and ran out deserved winners.

In a ding dong battle with action continually at both ends both sides put on a show for a national audience on live TV. Roy Carroll was the busier of the two keeperes at the start and was on hand to stop both Paul Heatley and Jordan Owens. He was on hand again again to save from Heatley as Crusaders threatened time and time again. Brian Jensen was called into action finally and he saved well and the corner from it was cleared. Howard Beverland did brilliantly in defence to keep Linfield at bay before Jensen again saved well at his near post. Crusaders took the lead on 22 minutes when the ball fell to Paul Heatley and he calmly shot across the goal, past players and Roy Carroll with the ball flying into the net. The game was open and direct and Linfield pushed at Crusaders looking an equaliser. Tackles flew in from every direction as it heated up on the pitch and Crusaders deservedly scored a second on 34 minutes when Mark McChrystal drove the ball across the box before it hit Mark Stafford and went past Roy Carroll. Linfield came back and made it 2-1 on 38 minutes when Mark Stafford made amends for the OG and headed home unmarked and it set up a good finish to the half. It got better for Crusaders when they went 3-1 up on the stroke of half time and it was Gavin Whyte who both made and scored the goal. Linfield struggled with Whytes pace and as he cut in with another run the ball fell to Matthew Snoddy whose shot hit the bar but up popped Whyte who had ran on into the box and collected the rebound to put the ball past Caroll and leave the score 3-1 at half time.

The second half was played at the same pace as the first and it made for great viewing. Linfield as expected came out and pressured Crusaders but could not make the breakthrough with Crusaders getting back into the game. Mark McChrystal was outstanding throughout and he blocked a shot and then cleared off the line to keep Crusaders two goals ahead. Linfield though did pull a goal back on 56 minutes when Aaron Burns rose above the Crusaders defence and headed home to make it 3-2 and it was game on. Brian Jensen and the Crusaders defence where equal to everything Linfield had for them and stood firm when needed. Paul Heatley was unlucky not to pick out Gavin Whyte with a lovely cross and Whyte was also unlucky as he slipped when ready to shoot. Crusaders kept going and they went further ahead on 81 minutes with another Linfield OG. Gavin Whyte again was involved and his cross hit Jimmy Callagher and the ball flew into the net giving Roy Carroll no chance and it left Crusaders 4-2 up. Both sides traded blows again but on 87 minutes Crusaders made it five. Mark Stafford failed to clear the ball and Gavin Whyte stole the ball off him and he laid it off to Philip Lowry to crash home and Crusaders where 5-2 up. Linfield had no answer and when the referee blew the whistle Crusaders supporters and players where ecstatic and celebrated together,

So a great victory and what a performance to go with it. It lifted Crusaders to third place and attention now changes to Friday night and the visit of Ballinamallard United to Seaview.

Interesting understanding of success there Michael.

Two Promotions vs One Promotion.

One could easily argue both promotions were very lucky but one can definitely say one of them was not in the EFL. In Warren’s time we never dropped out of the FL 

So, promotion from the Gloucestershire County League (Div 2) would be worth more than runners up in the Champions League?

I can confirm that Chris Lines is not Rovers greatest ever player.