Crusaders get back to winning ways against Coleraine

Crusaders returned to winning ways in the Irish Premiership as they beat Coleraine 2-1 at the Showgrounds.

In an entertaining first half, Jordan Stewart opened the scoring with a close-range header before Kieran Offord added a second after a defensive mix-up for Coleraine.

Matthew Shevlin pulled a goal back in the second half, but Kyle McClelland was sent off soon after as Declan Caddell's side held on for victory.

The Crues have now beaten Coleraine in three meetings this season and they move up to seventh in the table after the victory.

Offord scored his seventh league goal of the season against Coleraine

Clinical Crues hang on to beat Bannsiders

Crusaders opened the scoring midway through the opening half thanks to Stewart.

Ross Clarke swung a corner in from the near side and Stewart headed the ball up and over the reach of goalkeeper Max Little.

The visitors doubled their lead eight minutes later as defender Cameron Stewart under hit his pass back to Little, allowing the alert Offord to nip in, round the goalkeeper and roll the ball into an empty net.

It could have been worse for the Bannsiders as Jimmy Callacher rattled the woodwork on the stroke of half-time.

Coleraine, too, had their chances in an end-to-end first half, Shevlin and Rhyss Campbell both hitting the crossbar from headers.

Shevlin did throw the hosts a lifeline 15 minutes from the end, heading home Dean Jarvis’ cross from the left from close range for his 13th league goal of the season.

But their hopes of finding an equaliser were dealt a blow as McClelland was shown a second yellow card by referee Declan Hassan minutes later after tangling with Offord.

Johnny Tuffey denied Coleraine a late equaliser when he turned away substitute Kyle Spence’s fierce angled drive as the Crues recorded a third successive 2-1 win over Dean Shiels’ side.