CRUES EDGE OUT CARRICK
Philip Lowry grabbed the only goal of the game as Crusaders defeated Carrick Rangers at the Loughview Leisure Arena.
Rangers might have raced into an early lead when, after six minutes, Billy Joe Burns was adjudged to have brought down Ben Tilney into the area but David Cushley's resultant spot-kick was well saved by keeper Jonny Tuffey.
Tilney then came close just before the half-hour mark with a strong strike from outside the box but again Tuffey dealt with the threat with a reflex save.
And Tuffey was called into action again not long after that to turn a Danny Purkis effort over the bar whilst, at the other end, his opposite number Ross Glendinning did well to palm a Paul Heatley low strike away.
The deadlock was broken, however, in favour of the visitors right at the end of the first half when a Jarlath O'Rourke pass found Philip Lowry who duly sent an effort past Glendinning from just outside the box.
Crusaders looked to double their advantage early in the second half when Heatley sent a header over for Jordan Owens but he couldn't make the necessary connection to find the net.
At the other end Tilney and Cushley combined for the former to test Tuffey, albeit without success.
Indeed, Stuart King's side pushed hard for the equaliser - but ultimately in vain - as the game wore down with Cushley sending an effort wide from the edge of the box, following swiftly by Reece Glendinning curling the ball over the crossbar.
Carrick Rangers: Ross Glendinning, Watson, Gordon, Cushley, McGuckin, Maciulaitis, MacKinnon, Crowe, Reece Glendinning, Purkis, Tilney subs McCauley, Surgenor, Allen, Buchanan-Rolleston, Montgomery, Andrews, Withers
Crusaders: Tuffey, Burns, Lowry, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Owens, Winchester, Larmour, Smith, Heatley, Robinson subs Williamson, Weir, Lecky, Teelan, Kennedy, Anderson, James
Substitution 
Substitution 
