Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CRUES SHOW THEIR TEETH
..as Premier League outfit Wolves lie in wait
CRUSADERS took a significant step towards a high profile Europa League date with Wolves after this comfortable first leg win over B36 Torshavn at Seaview.
Stephen Baxter insists it’s “only half time in the tie” but the Shore Road men are strong favourites to progress to the next round where the English Premier League club lies in wait.
Summer signing Chris Hegarty headed a 33rd minute opener before the impressive Philip Lowry rifled home a second 11 minutes from time.
The only blot on the copy book was an early penalty miss by Jordan Owens after the same player was fouled inside the area.
“Our game plan worked a treat,” said Baxter. “The only disappointment is it’s only a 2-0 lead because our play deserved three or four.
“But we kept a clean sheet and any lead in Europe is a good lead. I believe we can go into next week’s second leg and score, but it’s only half time in the tie.
“They are capable of scoring three goals over there, so we’re not taking anything for granted.”
The Crues, who face B36 in the Faroes next Thursday, spurned a glorious chance 90 seconds in when referee Yigal Frid awarded a penalty for a foul on Owens.
The big striker dusted himself down and struck the set-piece himself, but B36 keeper Hans Jorgensen dived low to his left to save.
Ross Clarke and Lowry also drew saves from Jorgensen, before the visitors almost opened the scoring in the 32nd minute.
Ami Frederiksberg’s curling free-kick from 25 yards had Sean O’neill beaten, but his effort rattled back off the crossbar.
With the Crues defence scrambling, the ball bounced into the path of Alex Mellemgaard, but the defender’s shot rolled wide of target.
The woodwork had just about stopped quivering when Baxter’s men took the lead a minute later when centre back Hegarty pounced for a thumping debut goal.
A quick free-kick was funnelled wide to BJ Burns and the right-back produced a trademark cross for Hegarty to flash a bullet header into the roof of the net.
B36 keeper Jorgensen had no chance as the defender, signed from Dungannon in May, wheeled away to celebrate a memorable goal.
The Crues doubled their lead in the 79th minute when the tireless Lowry latched onto an Owens flick-on to fire in off the far upright.
David Cushley forced a smart save from Jorgensen before Torshavn substitute Brian Jacobsen flashed a close range header wide at the death.
The Crues are in the box seat heading into next week’s second leg.