SPOT LUCK FOR CRUES

Penalty calls knock out holders

CRUSADERS got through to the Irish Cup final on penalties as a pair of spot kicks saw off holders Coleraine at The Oval last night.

But it was harsh on the Bannsiders, who will feel aggrieved that they didn’t get a chance to score from 12 yards out themselves.

Coleraine made all the early running but the first real chance fell to Crusaders’ Jordan Owens, only for the striker’s touch to let him down with the goal at his mercy.

The Bannsiders got a decent sight of goal in the

23rd minute as Eoin Bradley tricked his way through but the Glenullin man rushed his shot and failed to get a decent connection.

Another miscued effort let the Crues off the hook in the 29th minute as Stephen O’Donnell headed wide from Jamie Glackin’s corner and a poor game continued to cry out for a goal.

The change of ends initially did little to change the dynamic of the contest but in the 55th minute Crusaders finally came up with a bit of quality.

David Cushley picked up Owens’ knockdown and pinged a clever pass over the top to Paul Heatley, who scampered into the box before stepping inside Aaron Canning and drawing a foul (below). The in-form Cushley stepped up to calmly slot past Chris Johns, despite the Coleraine keeper going the right way.

In the 66th minute, controversy reigned. The lively Glackin skipped past Sean Ward only to be chopped down right on the 18-yard line and the referee awarded a penalty to Coleraine. But after consulting with his assistant, the decision was overturned, a marginal call that the officials got wrong.

The free kick came to nought and Crues breathed a sigh of relief.

With 15 minutes left Ben Doherty played a weak pass to his keeper which Owens intercepted.

Ambling forward, the veteran had a wonderful chance to put the game to bed but shot wide under pressure from Adam Mullen.

It went from bad to worse for Owens soon after as a clever pass from sub Rory Hale gifted him an even better chance to finish it but the misfiring striker lofted the ball over the bar.

Yet Owens showed he lacks nothing in courage when he stood tall to finally bury Coleraine with three minutes to go, dusting himself down to convert a penalty after O’Donnell fouled him.