Irish Premiership
Crusaders 2 – 1 Bangor FT
Owen Wardell’s late stunning strike was enough to see Crusaders overcome Bangor 2-1 at Seaview.
The breakthrough arrived in the 16th minute when Aaron Reid steered Crusaders into the lead at the near post, finishing off a flowing move down the left.
Bangor responded strongly after the interval and equalised through Ben Arthurs, who rose highest to nod in a deflected effort, before Wardell settled the contest seven minutes from time with a stunning strike that crashed in off the post.
The result means the Crues have now taken 12 points from 15 at home this season, while Bangor will hope to bounce back when they host Coleraine next.
Crues impressive home form continues
After a cagey opening quarter of an hour, the home side carved out the first clear chance of the afternoon when Elliot Dunlop’s whipped delivery from the left found the surging run of Reid, only for the frontman’s header to be expertly blocked by Allie Mitchell.
The visitors failed to heed the warning, and it took barely sixty seconds for the deadlock to be broken.
Graham Kelly released Ryan McKay down the left flank, and the Linfield loanee found Reid at the near post; the striker did the rest, steering the ball beyond a helpless Gareth Deane with the deftest of finishes.
As the half-time interval approached, Declan Caddell’s men almost extended their lead in first-half injury time when Donal Rocks’ speculative strike from distance took a wicked deflection off the back of Reid, looping menacingly towards goal and forcing a superb, back-pedalling fingertip save from Deane.
Bangor came out with renewed intent after the restart, and they almost drew level straight away when Tiarnan Mulvenna pounced on a loose clearance just inside the penalty area, though the midfielder could not keep his effort on target.
The chances kept coming, and just shy of the hour mark Harry Lynch was afforded time and space 25 yards out; his dipping effort looked destined for the top corner until Shea Callister sprang across his goal line to preserve the home side’s lead.
That warning proved short-lived, the Seasiders drawing level eight minutes later when Mulvenna pulled the ball back for Iestyn Hughes, his shot taking a huge deflection off McKay and looping into the path of Arthurs, who rose to nod it over a stranded Callister.
Just as it looked as though the game would finish level, Wardell stepped up with a stunning effort to claim all three points for the Crues.
Cutting in from the right and finding no pressure from the Bangor backline, the winger took aim for the far post from 25 yards out, the ball crashing back off the post and nestling into the back of the net.
What the managers said
Crusaders manager Declan Caddell: “I thought we controlled the game for the first 45 minutes, but in the second half we didn’t really come out. Bangor threw everything at us, got their goal, which was probably yards offside, and the lack of a red card was probably the biggest talking point, though a wee bit of magic from Owen Wardell got us the three points.”
“The character the players showed to push on and create two or three other opportunities in the last 10 minutes is vital because our home performances last season were disgraceful; we conceded too many goals, and we have made sure no team gets it easy here this year.”
Bangor boss Lee Feeney: “I thought we were super and by far the best team in the second half after an even first half, but we were outdone by a bit of class from Owen Wardell, though if we are going to lose games that is the way I want us to go down fighting.”
“I’m really disappointed the referee decided not to give what I felt were two clear penalties on Ben Arthurs, although on the other side Oisin Devlin should have been sent off, so with a bit more luck and stronger refereeing I thought we could have won the game.”
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