‘VIEW TO A KILL

Owens: First target is to find our Sea legs again this season

a lot of experienced players at Warrenpoint during the summer, so it’ll be tough, but all we can do is look after ourselves.”

Owens knows three points tonight and a win at home against Coleraine – who finished third last season – on Saturday would represent a positive start to the campaign.

“You’re always looking to put points on the board early,” he said. “We have Warrenpoint and then Coleraine this week but it’s important we focus on one game at a time.

“We fell a little bit short in the league last season but I feel we’re equipped to come back stronger. Stephen has strengthened well this summer and you need that if you want to kick on.”

The Crues trailed Ballymena – who lost Jordan’s younger brother Kyle to a second half red card – on Friday, but hit back with a Paul Heatley (inset) brace and goals from Colin Coates and Jordan Forsythe.

Victory helped exorcise the painful memories of losing twice in the league at the Showgrounds last season, the last of which effectively handed the title to Linfield.

Owens said: “Ballymena walked over us at their place last season and we wanted revenge, so we were determined to get off to a good start.

“When we went 1-0 down, it showed the character we have in the team to hit back.

“The sending off maybe killed them a bit, but it’s good that we lifted ourselves and kicked on.”