Irish Premiership

Crusaders 2 – 1 Ballymena United FT

Crusaders celebrated their first points in the Irish Premiership this season by coming from behind to defeat Ballymena United 2-1 at Seaview.

Ballymena struck first during the match’s initial significant attack in the 10th minute. The Crusaders struggled to clear the ball from their penalty area, allowing Ballymena’s Igor Rutkowski to capitalize and score, placing his shot neatly into the bottom corner.

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However, the home team found their rhythm and equalized in the 27th minute. Owen Wardell raced to the byline and delivered a low cross that was deflected off Ballymena defender Daithi McCallion, resulting in a goal.

Just before halftime, Crusaders took the lead with three minutes to spare. Elliot Dunlop sent a cross from the left, which Adam Brooks assisted, allowing Wardell to finish with a precise left-footed shot from 14 yards out, beating goalkeeper David Walsh.

Crusaders nearly added a third goal during a swift counterattack following a corner from Ballymena. Dunlop set up Wardell, who tried to lob Walsh, but the Ballymena keeper managed to get a fingertip on the shot to deny the effort.

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Ballymena aimed to level the score, with Success Edogun coming close with a powerful shot that Shea Callister, the Crusaders goalkeeper, saved with his legs. The visitors also threatened with a stunning overhead kick by Rutkowski from Chris McKee’s cross, which sailed just above the crossbar.

The match ended in controversy when Ballymena believed they had equalized in the dying moments. Chris McKee scored with a shot into the roof of the net following a corner. However, as players returned to the center circle, referee Niall Devlin disallowed the goal.

What the managers said

Crusaders boss Declan Caddell: “Our home form wasn’t good enough last season so we’re delighted to get that monkey off our backs early on with three points but it’s back to work on Monday to prepare for Portadown.

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“Owen (Wardell) has no fear and pace to burn. The first goal comes from his cross and I think he put in about 20 of those crosses today.”

Ballymena boss Oran Kearney: “Once we got our goal we probably took our foot off the gas, which is disappointing and that momentum allowed Crusaders back into the game.

Irish Premiership

Crusaders 2 – 1 Ballymena United FT

Crusaders claimed their first points of the Irish Premiership season as they came from behind to beat Ballymena United 2-1 at Seaview.

Ballymena took the lead from the first meaningful attack of the game on 10 minutes after the hosts failed to clear the ball inside their penalty area.

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Defender Kurtis Forsythe made a good initial block but Ballymena reacted quickest to the loose ball, with Igor Rutkowski steering a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

But the home side began to get a foothold in the game and they levelled on 27 minutes when Owen Wardell burst to the bye-line and fizzed in a low centre which ended up in the net via a deflection off Ballymena defender Daithi McCallion.

The home side went in front three minutes before the interval as Elliot Dunlop crossed from the left with Adam Brooks laying the ball into the path with Wardell neatly steering a left-footed shot past David Walsh from 14 yards.

Crusaders came close to a third with a counter-attack from a Ballymena corner with Dunlop sending Wardell through on goal but as he attempted to lob the advancing Walsh, the Ballymena keeper got enough of a fingertip on it to keep the effort out.

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At the other end, Success Edogun came close to an equaliser for Ballymena with a fierce shot which was saved by the legs of Crusaders keeper Shea Callister.

The visitors threatened again as Rutkowski’s spectacular overhead kick from Chris McKee’s cross whistled inches over the crossbar.

There was a controversial ending to the game as Ballymena believed they had equalised in the final minute when Chris McKee smashed the ball into the roof of the net following a corner but as the players returned to the centre circle to re-start, referee Niall Devlin ruled the effort out.

What the managers said

Crusaders boss Declan Caddell: “Our home form wasn’t good enough last season so we’re delighted to get that monkey off our backs early on with three points but it’s back to work on Monday to prepare for Portadown.

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“Owen (Wardell) has no fear and pace to burn. The first goal comes from his cross and I think he put in about 20 of those crosses today.”

Ballymena boss Oran Kearney: “Once we got our goal we probably took our foot off the gas which is disappointing and that momentum allowed Crusaders back into the game.