Crusaders and Coleraine share points in table-top stalemate

There was nothing to separate Crusaders and Coleraine as the top 2 sides in the Danske Bank Premiership played out a tense 1-all draw at Seaview.

A Jamie McGonigle penalty in the second half had given the visitors the lead, before Crues substitute David Cushley scored a late equaliser.

The first half certainly felt like a clash between two teams that had too much to lose; chances were rare and far from conclusive in a predictably cagey forty-five minutes.

The Bannsiders' best opportunity fell to Eoin Bradley in the 34th minute, but he was uncharacteristically wasteful.

Having found himself in acres of space after being picked out by Chris Johns, he took far too long to decide what to do, and Colin Coates got back to clear inside the box.

Towards the end of the opening period Josh Carson flashed a free kick just wide of the Crusaders goal - but neither goalkeeper had been tested by that stage of the game.

It took until the second half and the 48th minute for Carson to draw a save from Brian Jensen, with the Dane diving low to keep out a driven shot after a Coleraine counter.

Crusaders went close in the 55th minute as captain Colin Coates thumped a header from a Paul Heatley corner which had to be cleared off the line by Lyndon Kane.

However, it was Coates who fouled Bradley in the 67th minute to concede a penalty which saw Coleraine take the lead.

Jamie McGonigle stepped up confidently and hammered the ball into the bottom left corner, with Brian Jensen diving the opposite way.

He perhaps should have scored again just 3 minutes later, but he volleyed over the bar from ten yards.

Substitute Darren Murray then squandered a great chance for Crusaders in the 79th minute, heading right into the arms of Chris Johns after connecting with a Coates flick-on.

It was fellow-sub David Cushley who dragged Crusaders back into the game just one minute after coming off the bench.

In the 84th minute, he was on hand to smash home a loose ball after Philip Lowry had a shot saved after a Heatley corner.

The ball fell to the feet of Cushley inside the 6 yard box, and he lashed the ball beyond Johns to pull his side level and salvage a point.