Hi °C | Lo °C Crusaders booked their County Antrim Shield semi-final spot with a convincing 3-0 win over Larne at Seaview.
After a fairly even first half the home side killed off the visitors challenge with two goals in four minutes before the goal of the game from David Rainey made the game safe.
Crusaders had the first chance after two minutes when Rainey burst clear only to be denied by a fine save from Stephen Carnduff. With 17 minutes gone hesitation by Crues keeper Greg Shannon almost proved costly as Marty Hunter blocked the clearance before the ball was scrambled to safety.
Bertie Fulton then let fly from 25 yards, his shot flashing inches wide with the keeper beaten. Both sides continued to push forward and Eamon Doherty will know he should have done better when he got on the end of Stephen McBride's corner but steered his header wide.
Noel Corrigan forced the keeper to tip over a stinging drive from 30 yards nine minutes before the break.
The best chance of the half fell to Crusaders with a minute remaining. Eamon McAllister's precision pass found Stephen Coulter who was left one on one with the keeper who did well to block the shot.
Crusaders started strongly after the break. On 52 minutes Morrow beat the offside but as he lined up his shot Paul Hamilton got in a perfectly time challenge to deny him.
The home side took the lead on the hour. A cross from McBride on the right was met by Coulter whose header flew into the net. The lead was doubled four minutes later.
Aaron Black was judged to have fouled Rainey and up stepped Barry Spence to send the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The third goal arrived five minutes later.
Morrow again provided the cross this time finding Rainey unmarked and his first time shot flew into the roof of the net.
