“Our game management, to concede two minutes before half-time and two minutes before the end is very naive, schoolboy stuff. It’s unacceptable,” said Devine afterwards
Crusaders’ positive start to the season continued as a well-executed counter-attacking strategy paid off with victory over Glentoran in east Belfast.
Glens boss Declan Devine labelled his team as naive after conceding two goals at bad times.
“Our game management, to concede two minutes before half-time and two minutes before the end is very naive, schoolboy stuff. It’s unacceptable,” said Devine afterwards.
“Livid, disappointed, I thought we caused our own problems. First half we created three or four big opportunities.
“Listen, there’s no shying away from it, we are down massive numbers in terms of the players that’s sitting on the treatment table.
“But this presented an opportunity for other people. I thought James Douglas was excellent. he showed great character and real ability to get on the ball and make things happen.
“To lose Marcus Kane and lose Ross Clarke in the first half, it just epitomises the bit of bad luck that we are going through at the minute. There’s no team in the country that could miss the players we are at the minute.”
With the pitch at The Oval slick with the rain, the Glens quickly got on the front foot and fashioned two good chances in the opening minutes, with Ben Gallagher shooting over before skipper Marcus Kane headed narrowly wide.
The Crusaders goal was living a charmed life as a mis-hit cross from Josh Kelly came back off the bar before Gallagher’s follow-up effort was cleared off the line by Graham Kelly. The visitors almost caught the Glens with a sucker punch when Adam Brooks slid a pass through for Owen Wardell to scamper clear. The winger failed to show the necessary composure, however, firing high and wide.
Back came Glentoran, with Ross Clarke heading wide from inside the six-yard box when he really ought to have scored. So too should Gallagher, when James Singleton headed the ball into his path and he opted to try to go round Shea Callister but the keeper was agile enough to make the block.
Crusaders made the hosts pay for their profligacy two minutes before the break. A fine, flowing move saw Elliot Dunlop make ground down the left flank before firing in a low centre that Waddell converted at the back post to send his side in 1-0 up.
Jordan Jenkins was brought on for the misfiring Clarke at half-time and he had an early chance when stabbing wide from Ryan Cooney’s dangerous corner.
Crusaders continued to carry a threat on the counter, however, and when Wardell scorched down the right wing and cut the ball back, it took fine defensive work from Kelly to deny Brooks a tap-in.
The Glens were struggling for fluidity in attack but just as their fans were getting restless, they knitted together a lovely move to equalise in the 68th minute. Joe Thomson — on as a sub for Josh Daniels — chased down a ball high up on the right before rolling it back to Cooney who clipped a gorgeous first-time cross to the far post where Gallagher came steaming in to plant a meaty header past Callister.
The Crues steadied the ship and Wardell’s pace continued to cause the Glens serious problems, with one raid down the left finishing with a powerful strike that keeper Billy Crellin deflected wide.
It came as no surprise then when Wardell created the 88th-minute winner, as yet another blistering surge along the left flank saw him cross for Aaron Reid to convert at the second time of asking after Crellin blocked the initial effort.
Elsewhere, Linfield made it three wins on the spin as they beat Limavady United 2-0 at the Showgrounds.
Matthew Fitzpatrick opened his account for the season six minutes before half-time, meeting Adam Frizzell’s cross with a deft volley into the roof of the net.
The in-form Frizzell then got on the scoresheet himself after the break, heading home Dylan Wells’ cross from close range to give his side some breathing space.
Chris Johns made a fine save from Daniel Lafferty’s free-kick, although the Blues’ afternoon was marred by a serious-looking injury to defender Darragh Leahy.
Dungannon Swifts also made it three wins in a row with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Cliftonville at Solitude.
The game turned shortly before half-time when Harry Wilson was shown a straight red card for a heavy challenge on Gael Bigirimana.
Cliftonville almost took the lead despite their numerical disadvantage when Rory Hale fired wide, but Kealan Dillon broke the deadlock after Paul Doyle intercepted Liam McStravick’s pass.
Sean McAllister then capitalised on more poor defending to score Dungannon’s second. Carrick Rangers were the day’s biggest winners, hitting four without reply against Bangor at Clandeboye Park.
In Friday night’s game, Coleraine eased to a 3-0 victory at Portadown thanks to goals from Matthew Shevlin, Senan Devine and Will Patching.
![The couple held their second wedding at the picturesque Son Marroig, a stunning 17th-century marble temple, with boozy celebrations continuing in the days that followed [Molly pictured]](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/08/29/20/110930975-16090045-The_couple_held_their_second_wedding_at_the_picturesque_Son_Marr-a-99_1788033024572.jpg)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login