Published Saturday, 13 February 2010
Crusaders 4 - 0 Coagh United
A brace from Chris Morrow and further goals from Martin Donnelly and Ross Arthurs ended any prospect of a giant killing act on the Shore Road.
Stephen Baxter's side dominated the opening half but had only a composed finish from Morrow on 32 minutes to cheer them up at the interval.
Morrow's goal calmed home nerves after Jordan Owens struck the crossbar with a header, though goalkeeper Johnny Pollock twice denied Donnelly to keep his side in the contest.
But, after the break, the home side cut loose when Morrrow hooked in Donnelly's cross to kill off United's challenge.
Donnelly made it 3-0 with a curling shot from the edge of the box in the 58th minute and the Northern Ireland international then crossed for substitute Arthurs to drill home the fourth.
United ran out of steam in the second half as the Carling Premiership title chasers, with Donnelly and Morrow in outstanding form, progressed to the quarter-finals with a swagger.
The visitors' afternoon ended on a sombre note as Ryan Berry was stretchered off with a leg injury after a collision with Declan Caddell.
CRUSADERS: Keenan, McKeown, Bell, Doherty (McCann 62), Magee, Coates (Caddell 74), McMaster, Morrow, Owens, Rainey (Arthurs 45), Donnelly. Subs not used: McBride, Hogg.
COAGH UNITED: Pollock, Baird (Kempton 72), Thornton, Calderwood, Hawe, Park (Gardiner 58), Berry, Reid, Lamont (McCordick 77), McMenemy, Dallas. Subs not used: Cowden, Patterson.