CRUES FIGHT BACK AT SEAVIEW
Crusaders fought back from conceding an early goal to defeat bottom of the table Institute at Seaview.
'Stute needed just 70 seconds to seize the advantage when Conor Tourish got on the end of a free-kick to send a looping header over Sean O'Neill into the corner of the net
The Crues responded well with Paul Heatley seeing a curling effort from a David Cushley free-kick saved by Rory Brown but, soon after, Liam Walsh threatened for the visitors with a low shot which Sean O'Neill pushed out before Rodney Brown made the ball safe.
The sides continued to trade chances as the first half progressed. Evan Tweed was on hand to nod Michael Ruddy's goalbound header clear while Walsh was twice more denied by O'Neill.
However, Crusaders got back on level terms with three minutes of the restart thanks to Philip Lowry's lashed finish from 15 yards after Jordan Owens had glanced a header into his path.
And Lowry might have doubled his tally soon after with a snapshot just past the post which had Brown beaten while, a few minutes later, the 'Stute keeper was forced to turn a fierce Rory Hale drive over the bar before blocking a Ruddy point blank header.
But, just before the hour, Heatley edged the Crues into the lead with what proved to be the winner with a competent finish after Tourish could only partially clear a long ball forward.
Crusaders: O'Neill, Burns, Lowry, McGonigle, Hale, Cushley, Ruddy, Brown, Heatley, McElroy, Dummigan subs Shields (not used), Caddell (not used), O'Rourke (not used), Owens (replaced Cushley 46), Thompson (replaced McElroy 84), McGinley (not used), Clarke (replaced McGonigle 82)
Institute: R. Brown, C. McLaughlin, Curry, Tourish, B. McLaughlin, McCauley, Tweed, Brogan, Pomeroy, Henry, Walsh subs McCann (not used), R. Morrow (replaced Walsh 82), Obhakhan (not used), Crown (replaced Henry 62), J. Morrow (not used), Carty (not used), de Carne (replaced Pomeroy 71)