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Lisburn Distillery 2 - 2 Crusaders

The home side looked out of it, two goals behind after just 35 minutes, but they came back to draw thanks to goals from Glenn Ferguson and Paul Muir.

The Whites had applied all the early pressure, Neal Gawley, prominent up-front, went close on a couple of his occasions. His best effort came in the tenth minute when he broke clear on the left but after running some twenty-five yards he sent his shot wide of keeper Chris Keenan and
the post.

But that counted for nothing as Crusaders netted twice inside nine minutes - Jordan Owens netted from close range on 26 minutes after Ross Arthurs initial effort came back of a post. The Whites looked condemned to defeat when Arthurs was on hand to tuck home Owens' cross on 35 minutes but the Whites have belief in themselves these days and back they came.

Glenn Ferguson tried to force home Peter McCann's cross on 42 minutes but although the ball was cleared off the line Ferguson headed home the rebound.

Seconds into the second-half Stephen McBride cleared Gary Brownes' shot off the line, after the ball had thundered off the cross bar. Despite chances, the Whites had to wait until the 65th minute for Paul Muir to head home Andy Kilmartin's corner before Crusaders almost grabbed a dramatic winner but Owens volleyed over deep in added time.

Whites' boss Tommy Wright was happy with the point although his side might have taken all three. "There is belief in the squad and I think you can see that", said Wright. "Four or five weeks ago we would have maybe turned round there and got a four or five goal drubbing. We came back against one of the teams that I admire in the league in Crusaders and we done extremely well."

Visiting boss Stephen Baxter was naturally disappointed to how conceded a two goal lead.

"Very disappointing", he said. "You have control of the game, you have done the required job but you can't sit and relax - we gave an absolutely stupid goal away for the first one by not clearing our lines. One mistake and (the ball is in the) back of the net. We gave them a life-line, something to hold onto. Second half they came out with passion drive and determination which we expected today; they pushed forward to get back into the game which they did and we maybe left it too late to get that winner and maybe Jordan should have wrapped it up at the end.- a real good chance but that's it, you surrender a two goal advantage and a point when you would have hoped to have had all three."

Lisburn Distillery: Matthews, Callaghan, Curran, Muir, McShane, McCann,
G.Thompson, Kilmartin, Browne, Gawley (Corey 80), Ferguson. Subs:
McCluskey, Friel, Cooling, Melaugh.

Crusaders: Keenan, McKeown, Magowan, Gibson, McBride, McMaster
(Faulkner 70), Collins (Caddell 61), McCann, Donnelly, Arthurs (Rainey
37), Owens. Subs: Bell, Murphy.

Referee: Ross Dunlop (Carrickfergus)

© UTV News