Crusaders AFC 2 – 1 De La Salle (2B) – Match Report
Though he gave nothing away regarding team selection or formation, Crusaders 2B manager Kevin Murphy did note in Friday’s pre-match press conference the desire to turn Whitfield Park into a fortress, somewhere no opposition team in this year’s 2B division would want to visit. Getting the grounds ready for football has taken a gargantuan effort over the past few months, and our 2B team have certainly played their part with several of the team giving their time, sweat and whacking skills to the cause. These efforts all played their part in Saturday’s win over De La Salle.
With the surface well-watered, with fresh new nets inviting a shoot-on-sight approach, and a near capacity crowd bringing local traffic to a standstill, Crusaders took to the field with purpose on Saturday. Minus the suspended Paddy O’Neill and the injured David Cheasty, Murphy introduced Stephen Pollard and Tommy Smyth for their first starts of the season in an otherwise unchanged lineup from the previous outing.
As the TV cameras watched from high up in the gantry, Crusaders immediately set about quietening a De La Salle team who had scored four last time out. On 10 minutes, a well worked move ended with Ben Brophy playing a killer ball to Zak O’Connor, who beat the offside trap and poked past the keeper to put Crusaders one-up. The Whitfield men further extended their lead on 19 minutes when Smyth made it 2-0 with a smart finish.
But De La Salle weren’t for rolling over, and they pulled one back in the 27th minute, a well worked goal which the imperious Pollard simply couldn’t keep out. The video analysts will be replaying this one for an otherwise flawless left full back at training this week.
Similarly to last time out, midfield maestro Odhran O’Donnell was pivotal in every forward move from the blue-and-reds, ably supported by Smyth and Sean Halpin. Eoin Daly and Brophy kept the defenders guessing, as they cut in from their wings with ease. At the back, player-of-the-match Pollard commanded his 18-yard area, making it look easy. Captain Cian O’Neill and partner Jordan Wall were the heart of the defensive effort, superbly aided by Jim Brennan and Devin Enright. Conor Brennan, Luke McCarthy and Joe Barry played their part from the bench in seeing the game out as the Crusaders emerged with all three points. Special mention must go to the supporters and unused substitutes who, despite a raucous atmosphere in the main stand, played their part in bringing the team over the line.
Crusaders AFC 
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