Co. Antrim Shield: Crusaders 4-0 Donegal Celtic
Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter gave several squad players a run-out as his side eased past Donegal Celtic 4-0 in the first round of the County Antrim Shield.
Billy Joe Burns, Philip Lowry and David Cushley (2) got the goals on a night of dominance for the home side, who were never threatened by the visitors.
Among the changes for Crusaders was centre forward Mark McAllister, starting in place of usual leading man Jordan Owens.
McAllister looked a player lacking in sharpness though, and in 20th minute he missed two quickfire chances from extremely close range.
In the 36th minute Jamie Glackin caught Cieran Clougherty in posession just outside the Donegal Celtic box and shot from 20 yards, drawing a diving save from Sean McIlhone.
Billy Joe Burns then fired wide from a similar position after being teed up by a Glackin backheel.
However, he made amends for that in the 44th minute in scoring the opener.
Burns was left unmarked as David Cushley lined up a corner from the right. The Crues' captain for the night collected a pass, calmly stepped his man, and lashed a 20 yard shot into the top corner.
Crusaders got their second fewer than 10 minutes into the 2nd half.
McAllister was played into space down the right, and he squared it to Philip Lowry who was unmarked to score a tap in with 54 minutes on the clock.
Just before the hour the Crues began to run away with the game as Glackin rolled the ball across to Cushley, who was left unmarked from ten yards. In trademark fashion, he lashed an unstoppable shot beyond McIlhone.
There was a long delay in play after an injury to Donegal Celtic left back Conor Burns, who left the field on a stretcher with his left leg in a brace.
By that stage the game as a contest was largely over, and with the exception of a Stephen O'Flynn header which sailed wide, the visitors didn't offer much in attack.
David Cushley was then sent clear in the 84th minute to get behind a tiring defence and slam a low shot into the far corner and complete Crusaders' victory.