4th Division – Match Report
With high pressure in the south-east promised by Met Eireann for Friday, Manager Moran cancelled training in the run up to Friday night’s trip to Newtown for fear that many older ankles wouldn’t hold up to the scrutinous hard surface at the Orchard. As it turned out, the bigger challenge to his players’ ability to deliver came down to the toss of a coin and the blinding sun which caused League of Ireland poster boy Paul Lawrence to wear his favourite team’s cap in an effort to see the game (#YNWA Lawro).
Rangers sought to capitalise on the sun’s debilitating impact on the Crusaders backline straight from kick off and to good effect, with only their wayward shooting and the Crusaders’ keeper’s cat-like reflexes keeping the score to 1-0 in the first quarter. Speaking afterwards, Lawro exclaimed “I was like Grobelaar out there this evening wasn’t I, awwww, Brucie Brucie Brucie, bang bang bang!”.
However, in a move from the training grounds (8pm Tuesdays, “no pressure, very enjoyable”) Titley’s throw-in on 22 minutes was met by Egan’s forehead and onto Hunt’s trusty right peg to whip the ball across the box for David Power to conjure a majestic finish, lobbing the Rangers keeper, rippling the net and pirouetting with satisfaction. Power has shown huge promise in this, his rookie year at this level, having moved up from last year’s youth setup, bringing an innocence and an enthusiasm which has infected the entire squad.
The second half was a test of fortitude and resilience, and with Elon Musk switching the sun off at half time, was played on a more even setting. Titley and Hanrahan were rock solid at the back, Barney and Rockett gave as good as they got in the middle, Egan and debutant Hunt ran and harried the Rangers defence all game, and the Power brothers (Trevor, Walter and David) were inspirational with their efforts. Having lost centre half Pat Heffernan earlier in the game after he and the Rangers striker had a fit of the giggles, Crusaders were thankful of a large bench as Brian Scott, Deano Dean, Mark Kennedy and Frank Frampton (who got lost en route to Tramore, having last travelled south by train) were able to keep the legs fresh and the momentum forward.
On this occasion however, a rearguard action in the final quarter eventually succumbed to a second Rangers goal, which slipped past Lawrence and his favourite Dudek gloves. A 2-1 defeat by the sea, but one which inspires hope in a squad brimming with talent.
Injuries and niggles haven’t been kind to Crusaders so far this season. Indeed, only before the game the squad were informed that Paul “Duckie” McDonnell isn’t expected to recover from his latest knock for 10-12 years. But with the enigmatic Peter O’Byrne expected to return for next Wednesday’s home fixture, with Paul O’Neill expected to return from Vegas as soon as his bank manager gets in touch, with Noel Slattery due back from a residency in Madison Square Garden in the coming weeks and new signings and former Crusaders Paul and Niall Kelly due to agree on a boot contract with Aldi by Monday, the future looks bright for this team.
So bright in fact, Lawrence says he’ll need his Jamie Redknapp Ray-Bans for Wednesday.
Crusaders AFC 
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