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A Paul Heatley goal early in the game was enough to earn Crusaders victory from their opening day of the season visit to Warrenpoint Town.
Heatley struck after just nine minutes with a confident finish into the bottom corner after Gary Thompson had played the ball into the box.
And Heatley had the ball in the net again soon after from a Jordan Forsythe delivery only for the 'goal' to be ruled out offside.
'Point might have levelled midway through the first half when Adam Carroll found Alan O'Sullivan with a cross but his subsequent header was saved by Sean O'Neill.
The intensity dropped a little towards the break, although Declan Caddell did come close with a dipping effort from Ross Clarke's corner.
Warrenpoint came out well in the second half, creating an opening when O'Sullivan got on the end of Colm Deasy's through ball but was thwarted by a Billy Joe Burns challenge while Carroll then saw an effort denied on the line.
But there were few other chances as the game progressed apart from a Jamie McGonigle curling shot which flashed just past an upright.
Crusaders' afternoon was soured right at the end, however, when Burns was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Ryan Swan.