Prolific Philip Lowry final evening scored for the fifth league recreation in a row as Crusaders inched their approach to joint-top of the Danske Financial institution Premiership desk.
Stephen Baxter’s boys produced one other efficiency of tempo, energy and precision to nudge David Jeffrey’s Ballymena United slightly nearer to the relegation zone.
Lowry opened his workforce’s objective account earlier than objectives from Jarlath O’Rourke and Jordan Forsythe lit up Seaview and catapulted the Crues stage on factors with Glentoran, who've a barely higher objective distinction.
It was one other evening of distress for the Sky Blues. Jeffrey’s physique language following final week’s residence defeat by Carrick Rangers mentioned all of it, admitting it could be a ‘huge problem’ to halt the alarming slide down the desk.
One win from seven league fixtures isn’t nice studying for the long-time ex-Linfield boss and after final evening’s displaying, it appears there isn't any fast repair.
It was the Crues who requested all of the early questions with Forsythe bursting ahead after solely seven minutes, skipping previous deal with after deal with earlier than his low drive was saved on the base of the publish by Sean O’Neill.
The hosts missed one other likelihood six minutes later as Paul Heatley’s thumping shot was overwhelmed out by O’Neill with Jude Winchester simply inches away from changing. Seconds later, Ross Clarke whipped in a nook from the suitable that was met by the unmarked Daniel Larmour, however his bullet header fizzed inches previous the publish.
The house workforce finally broke the impasse on 29 minutes. Billy Joe Burns’ looking punt ahead was beautifully touched on by Adam Lecky to Lowry who drilled previous O’Neill.
United responded positively. Sean Graham made floor on the left earlier than selecting out Jordan Gibson with a cross, however the striker’s header flew straight into the gloves of Jonny Tuffey.
However it was fleeting. Crusaders struck once more on 33 minutes, as Clarke offered a peach of a cross from the suitable that was brilliantly headed again into the six-yard field by Lecky for O’Rourke to poke residence.
It might have been worse. It took a unbelievable double save from O’Neill to disclaim Lowry after which O’Rourke from killing the sport as a contest.
The tempo slackened significantly, however the possibilities saved coming and Clarke actually ought to have put the sport to mattress on the hour when put one-on-one with O’Neill, whose outstretched leg deflected it clear.
United have been nearly gifted a approach again into the sport when Conor Keeley’s flicked-on header trickled extensive.
12 minutes from time, the guests have been let off the hook once more when Heatley noticed a shot cannon again off the publish, earlier than Forsythe lastly sealed it on 83 minutes, climbing excessive to fulfill a Clarke nook and his well-struck header discovered the again of the online.
CRUSADERS: Tuffey, Burns, Weir (Thompson 87) , Lowry, Lecky (McMurray 87), Forsythe, O’Rourke, Winchester, Larmour, Heatley, Clarke (Snelgrove 87).
Unused subs: Murphy, Ebbe, Owens, Barr.
BALLYMENA UNITED: O’Neill, Redman, McDaid, Kelly, McCullough, Kane, Gibson (Parkhouse 81), Keeley, Graham (Henderson 64), Tipton (McElroy 81), Place.
Unused subs: Whiteside, Loughran, Waide, Corbett.
Referee: Ian McNabb
Man of the match: Philip Lowry
Match ranking: 6/10