Irish Premiership: Crusaders 1-0 Ballymena Utd

Crusaders earned their first league points of the season against Ballymena United thanks to Eamon McAllister's goal on the hour mark at Seaview.

Nathan Hanley crossed from the left and Declan Caddell chested the ball down for McAllister to stroke home.

In the first half, Caddell drilled a low shot wide and Paul Heatley also sliced an effort wide of the target.

Late in the game Darren Boyce went close for Ballymena, while Johnny Taylor had a header saved.

For the Crues, it was just their third win in 12 league games, while their opponents have now won just one of their last seven in the Premiership.

The result sees Crusaders keep up their challenge for third place, while results elsewhere ensured that Ballymena will again occupy a place in the bottom six of the table.

The sides could meet again in the Irish Cup final if they were to win their respective semi-finals on 5 April.