Rochdale stun Tottenham to earn FA Cup replay

CRUSADERS manager Stephen Baxter said he was proud of his boys after they displayed a never say die spirit in their IRN-BRU Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Inverness last night.

Trailing 3-0 at half-time to their slick full-time opponents, the Crues needed a miraculous comeback to progress to the final and they almost achieved it after Paul Heatley hammered in a brace.

Goals from George Oakley, Joe Chalmers, Jake Mulraney fired the hosts into the decider against Dumbarton but Baxter said: “We certainly didn’t let ourselves down in any shape or form. We are very proud of our performance here tonight.”

Crusaders midfielder Declan Caddell was sent off in injury time after protesting about the awarding of a penalty to the home side when he clashed with Liam Polworth. Inverness, who also had Brad McKay sent off in the 63rd minute, missed the spot-kick when Iain

Vigurs poked it wide of the target.

REPORT AND REACTION: Page 55 Potent Bru: Crues players Billy Joe Burns (centre) and Declan Caddell

confront Inverness rival Liam Polworth over a penalty award RORY McIlroy saved the best for last in Los Angeles.

Tied for 42nd in the Genesis Open overnight after a disappointing, two-over 73 on Saturday, the four-time major winner birdied his last two holes to close with a three-under 68 and a top 20 finish on three-under par.

American Bubba Watson took the $1.3m top prize on 12 under par after a final round 69. But early pacesetter Graeme McDowell slipped out of the top 25 with a 77 yesterday to end two under.

Missing the cut in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am before making up the numbers in Los Angeles wasn’t quite the West Coast swing Holywood star McIlroy (above) mind.

However, there were still moments to savour on the final day, such as his magical birdie at the par-five 11th, where he hit recovered from deep in the trees with a low bullet before floating a 130-yard approach to five feet and brushing in the putt.

While another poor drive led to a bogey at the 13th, he hit a stunning 173-yard approach to three feet at the 495-yard first to set up an eagle three, then followed a bogey at the tough fifth by holing a 12-footer at the eighth and a ticklish, three-anda-half footer for another birdie at the ninth

The Co. Down man looked set to take home more than $60,000 – a drop in the ocean for a player with career earnings on the PGA Tour alone of $35.5 million.

had in

RORY RAPS TIGER BAITERS: P48