Division 2B – Match Report
Looking to return to winning ways after a disappointing result last time out, the Crusaders 2B team showed up to Whitfield Park on Saturday determined and ready for action. Training in recent weeks has switched from running the slopes of Train Hill to ball work, and Devin was busy an hour before kick off with his new Temu pump to make sure the leather was at regulation pressure.
Gaffer Murphy elected to switch things around this week, opting for Big Joe Barry to lead the line, a testament to his performance last time out. Top scorer Zak O’Connor moved out to the left, a bold move for the manager in his fourth game but one which ultimately would bear fruit.
Stephen Pollard stepped into the goal, the fullbacks were as the previous games this season with Jim Brennan and Dev, and captain Cian O’Neill returned to partner Jordan Wall in the centre. Also returning was Odhran O’Donnell, who anchored the middle alongside Tommy Smyth and Big Sean Halpin, with Luke McCarthy geared to raid down the right.
It didn’t take long for the big man up front to make his presence felt, winning a penalty on 4 minutes, and lucky to escape without a serious injury following a last-ditch tackle. Zak duly slotted home from the spot, low to the left. Soon after, the big striker laid off a deft glancing header for Tommy to run onto but his shot was saved. The game was evenly matched for much of the first half after that, with both sides shot-shy and much of the play focused on the flanks. In fact, it took until the 75th minute for the game to really spring into life. As the sun finally made an appearance, Dungarvan equalised courtesy of a fine finish which gave Pollard no chance.
However, the Crusaders were up to the challenge, with Zak getting his second just 3 minutes later, finding space from a Tommy Smyth through ball and burying it into the bottom corner. Four minutes later, the “Zak-trick hat-trick” was complete as he won the ball from just inside the halfway line, beating four players and finishing with a cracker.
Dungarvan did manage a consolation near the end. A spectacular save from Pollard came back off the crossbar and the Dungarvan striker reacted quickest to toe over the line. However, this result was never in doubt, and a well-deserved three points sees the boys sitting in fourth in the table, with an away trip to second placed Kilbarry Rangers next on the cards.
Jordan Daniels, Eoin Daly, Conor Brennan and Alex Cowman came into the game in the final quarter and played their part in re-energising the team. And a special mention goes to Harry Ryan who caused no end of problems for the Dungarvan back line when he came on.
Crusaders AFC 
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