Crusaders 3-0 Dungannon Swifts

Crusaders opened up a gap at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership as they beat Dungannon Swifts 3-0 at Seaview.

In a clash of first versus second, it wasn’t much of a contest in North Belfast as the Crues showed their class to claim the points.

They side took control in just the 5th minute through Philip Lowry. A well-worked move down the right saw BJ Burns cushion a header to David Cushley, who then found Lowry bursting into the box to finish from close range.

Crusaders came close to a second as Cushley had a low shot cleared off the line, and Chris Hegarty almost scored a header against the club he left in the summer.

Dungannon moved the ball smartly, but failed to create many clear chances, with the exception of Kris Lowe’s shot which was well saved by Sean O’Neill.

5 minutes before the break, Crusaders got themselves into a commanding lead with the second goal.

Opening scorer Lowry chased a ball down the left and chipped a cross to the far side of the box where BJ Burns arrived at full pace to smash a 15-yard half-volley into the bottom corner.

Just after the hour, it was 3-0 to the Belfast club as Lowry grabbed his second of the afternoon.

Paul Heatley got himself one-on-one with the keeper and when his effort was saved, it dropped to the midfielder to tap into an open net from 12 yards and kill the game as a contest.