ONE FINAL PUSH

Crusaders haven’t won a knock-out competition since 2012 & manager Baxter wants to put that right

CRUSADERS will aim to take another stride towards a first knockout trophy in almost six years in tonight’s Toals County Antrim Shield semi-final with Carrick Rangers.

The Shore Road men have been one of the dominant forces in local football in recent seasons, famously lifting the league title in 2015 and 2016.

But boss Stephen Baxter won’t need reminding that the last knockout silverware they lifted was the League Cup and Setanta Cup in 2012.

Since then, the Crues have twice been runners-up in the Shield – in 2014 and last season when they lost the final to Linfield – and the League Cup in 2013 and 2014.

“There’s a final at stake and the chance of silverware,” said Baxter. “It’s a semi-final, it’s at our ground and we are determined to put our best foot forward.

“I’ll look at the squad, see who needs some game time, who’s ready and who’s not and go again, but we want to progress. We want to reach a final.”

While the Crues are in a rich vein of form with nine wins and a draw in their last 10 games in all competitions, struggling Carrick have lost their last six on the bounce.

Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park followed a 7-1 hammering at the hands of the Crues (inset) in the league at Seaview just nine days ago.

Baxter said: “They’ll be anxious to put things right after that 7-1 defeat, so I’m sure they’ll come with a different gameplan.

“We’ll need to be at our best to reach the final. There’s no rest in this game. The games are coming thick and fast and it’s relentless, so we’ll need to be at it.” Saturday’s 1-1 draw with league leaders Coleraine saw the Crues climb to second in the table, above Glenavon on goal difference and six points off the summit with a game in hand.

Just nine points now separate the top five clubs in the title race.

Baxter said: “You have Coleraine, Cliftonville, Linfield, Glenavon and ourselves right up there and it’s absolutely brilliant for the Irish League.

“There’s not a lot separating the teams. I hope it continues like that. It’ll be a very interesting second half of the season.”

Crues skipper Colin Coates is a major doubt for tonight’s tie after missing Saturday’s Coleraine clash with a back injury.