CLASSY CRUSADERS RUN RIOT

Crusaders 6 Glenavon 1

CRUSADERS took a massive step towards a top six finish thanks to their biggest win of the season and a six-goal hammering of Glenavon at Seaview.

The Lurgan Blues, four points below the Crues with a game in hand before kick-off, took an early lead through Matthew

Fitzpatrick before Stephen Baxter’s men stepped up a few gears and ran riot.

Philip Lowry and Paul Heatley (right) had the Crues ahead at the break, before Ross Clarke added a third with a cross that looped into the far corner.

Heatley completed his brace soon after before Jamie Mcgonigle pounced for a double of his own to complete the scoring, the second a superb curler into the top corner.

Victory inches the Crues closer to a top half finish at the expense of Glenavon and Ballymena United who travel to Linfield this afternoon.

Elsewhere, LARNE closed the gap on third-placed Glentoran to just two points with a 5-0 win over WARRENPOINT TOWN at Inver Park.

Davy Mcdaid, Josh Robinson, Marty Donnelly, Ronan Hale and an Andy Mitchell penalty ensured Tiernan Lynch marked his 150th game as manager with a win.

Cathair Friel equalised for CARRICK RANGERS in a 1-1 draw with DUNGANNON SWIFTS who had taken an early lead through Cathal Mcginty.

There is no relegation this season but the result means the Swifts remain four points behind Rangers at the foot of the table.

COMEDIANS on Twitter had a field day when Tottenham were trolled by somebody in their own paint sponsor’s social media department.

I think Jose Mourinho has enough on his plate already, so I’ll just commend Spurs for their classy one-line response: “We’ll gloss over it this time.”

ARSENAL’S brilliant, swaggering display in their win-or-bust Europa League tie with Slavia Prague begs only one question.

Where was this style, this conviction and this courage earlier in the season when the Gunners were dicing with the bottom three just before Christmas?

With a semi-final against his predecessor Unai Emery’s Villarreal to come, manager Mikel Arteta (left) must be starting to believe in his chances of landing a second major trophy in as many seasons.

And although Liverpool’s Champions League challenge ended in a spate of missed chances against Real Madrid, where was their tempo and intensity

when they lost six in a row at home to the likes of Burnley and Brighton?

If form remains one of the biggest mysteries in football, class is still the game’s most indelible hallmark.

GET well soon, Darren Moore.

It’s scary to learn the Sheffield Wednesday manager’s recent Covid-19 positive test has now developed into pneumonia. The Owls’ best result between now and the end of the season – whatever happens on the pitch – will be Darren’s full recovery.