Crusaders sweep aside Carrick Rangers to book place in European Play-Off Final

Adam Lecky got the Crues off to a flier with a headed goal on seven minutes, Stewart Nixon scored in first half added time and Ben Kennedy made sure of the win after the break.

Carrick pulled one back through Danny Gibson but were beaten by the better team on the night and it is Crusaders who will face Coleraine in the May Day showdown.

Stephen Baxter made wholesale changes to the youthful side that lost to Glentoran while Stuart King made just one change, drafting Benjamin Buchanan-Rolleston in for James Teelan.

Lecky took on the familiar role of leading the line, ably supported on the flanks by Ross Clarke and Nixon, and it wasn't long before the 32-year-old striker opened for the home side.

The Crues applied pressure through Robbie Weir and Kennedy and when Clarke sent a lofted ball to the heart of the box, Lecky nodded downwards and in off Ross Glendinning's hand from six yards.

The bright start continued for the hosts as Daniel Larmour saw a cushioned volley held by Glendinning on ten minutes before Kennedy sent a vicious swirling shot veering just wide of the far post on 22 minutes.

Carrick, with a very attacking line-up, worked hard to get back on level terms and after skipper David Cushley was booked, he tried a trademark long range thunderbolt that was easy for Jonny Tuffey to hold, then Crusaders were off on the hunt for a second goal.

A lightning break by Kennedy from his own box on 28 minutes saw Clarke feed Nixon who, in turn, played a square ball to the advancing Kennedy in the box but, when he pulled the trigger, Kyle Cherry was on hand to make a vital interception.

Jordan Forsythe spotted Glendinning off his line after the half hour and tried his luck from just past the halfway line but the ball dropped just over the bar, then Lewis MacKinnon made a smart tackle on Nixon in a dangerous position eight minutes later.

There were some fascinating duels in the contest, notably Lecky against Albert Watson and Forsythe against Danny Gibson, with Crusaders edging proceedings but Carrick proving dangerous.

The game was heading towards the interval when Crusaders doubled their lead, again after patient build up and pressure on the Carrick back line.

When Philip Lowry collected inside the box with his back to goal and tried to turn and shoot, but was denied and when the ball fell to Nixon at the corner of the box the 26-year-old pounced in an instant to flash the ball low past Glendinning into the far corner of the net.

However, the ’Gers clawed one back within seconds when they won a corner from the restart. Benjamin Buchanan-Rolleston dropped the dead ball right on Tuffey on his line but the Crues keeper fumbled, the ball squirmed to the near post and Gibson managed to scramble the ball over the line under close scrutiny from a clutch of Crusaders defenders.

If the Crues gifted Carrick a goal through an error, the visitors returned the favour five minutes into the second period when a Joe Crowe lapse allowed Lecky to bear down on goal but he fluffed his lines with Watson bearing down to cover.

The north Belfast team made sure of the win on 54 minutes and again Clarke was pivotal, getting down the right flank and shaking off his man to clip beautifully to the centre where Kennedy rose to nod a cushioned header over the line from close range.

Carrick huffed and puffed but Baxter's boys were in cruise control at this stage and the long-serving manager made changes late on to protect some of his players for the Final.

Crusaders: Tuffey, Weir, Lowry, Kennedy, Lecky (Owens 81), Forsythe, O'Rourke, Larmour, Clarke, Nixon (Heatley 81), Barr.

Subs not used: Williamson, Joshua, Winchester, Boyd, James.

Carrick Rangers: Glendinning, Watson, Cushley (Surgenor 65), Allen (Withers 89), Maciulaitis, MacKinnon, Buchanan-Rolleston (Robinson 89), Crowe, Cherry (Graham 89), Gibson, Tilney (McGuckin 72).

Subs not used: McCauley, Mills.

Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)

Man of the match: Adam Lecky

Match rating: 7/10