OFFORD FINISH THE DIFFERENCE AT THE OVAL
Crusaders got the new season off to a winning start with victory over Glentoran at the BetMcLean Oval.
What proved to be the only goal of the game - and the opening goal of the new campaign - came after 21 minutes when Kieran Offord turned the ball into the empty net after an attempted clearance by Glens keeper Daniel Gyollai was allowed to run free.
Just prior to that, at the other end, David Fisher saw a snapshot turned away by Jonny Tuffey while the home side might have levelled just before the break only for Wassim Aouachria's header from a Niall McGinn corner to be cleared off the line by Philip Lowry.
Glentoran had another chance early in the second half after another McGinn delivery was laid off by James Singleton for Charlie Lindsay but he could only turn his effort over the bar.
Substitute Jordan Jenkins almost made his presence felt almost immediately not long after that but his near post touch was cleared to safety by Robbie Weir.
Paddy McClean then headed over a little later in the game followed soon after by Lindsay spotting Tuffey out of position but unable to make the most of the opportunity.
However, in the end, new Crues boss Declan Caddell - in his first game in charge - saw his side hold on to claim the win.
Glentoran: Gyollai, Hvid, McClean, Connolly, Donnelly, Aouachria, McGinn, Murphy, Fisher, Kelly, Singleton subs Mills, Palmer, Boyd, Lindsay, Jenkins, Farley, Douglas
Crusaders: Tuffey, Weir, Lowry, Stewart, Blaney, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Offord, Larmour, Franklin, Barr subs Mashal, Jewitt-White, Owens, Vance, Donnelly, Nixon, James
Substitution 
Substitution 
