Crusaders 0-3 Coleraine

INPHO
Author: Alex KeeryPublished 3rd Sep 2018
Last updated 3rd Sep 2018

Jamie McGonigle scored a second-half brace as Coleraine swept aside Crusaders in a commanding 3-0 win at Seaview.

His efforts added to Josh Carson's opener as the home side struggled for most of the evening.

The signs of Coleraine dominance were there early in the game, and in the 11th minute Howard Beverland was caught in possession and bundled ball towards his own goal.

It allowed Eoin Bradley to steal in behind and drive into the box before shooting low and hard.; his effort was well saved by Sean O'Neill but it fell straight to Carson for a tap-in.

Crusaders failed to create anything of value in the first half, and it wasn't until the 51st minute that Chris Johns was really tested, as he awkwardly palmed away a long-range effort by Matthew Snoddy.

Beverland was then teed up by Paul Heatley's 55th minute free kick, but the defender could only head his attempt straight at Johns.

3 minutes later Coleraine wasted a great chance to go 2 goals clear when Bradley's pullback was sent flying over the bar by Darren McAuley.

In a rare spell of Crusaders dominance, Johns was again forced into a great save, getting down low to his left to turn away a long-range shot by Billy Joe Burns just after the hour.

However, a Crusaders defender lost their footing in the 65th minute, which allowed Jamie McGonigle to steal some space before firing past O'Neill to make it 2-0.

5 minutes later, the home defence sat back and left McGonigle in acres of space on the edge of the box. He took a touch before arrowing a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards which left O'Neill a flat-footed spectator and put the result beyond any doubt.