Irish Premiership: Crusaders 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

Crusaders have moved to within a point of Premiership leaders Linfield after Timmy Adamson's goal secured a 1-0 win over Dungannon Swifts at Seaview.

Crues winger Paul Heatley fired wide before Adamson headed in from Craig McClean's cross on 35 minutes.

The hosts created the better openings and Gavin Whyte broke clear only to shot straight at keeper Andy Coleman.

Adamson hit the bar from close range and Cameron Grieve cleared off the line as Crusaders earned a deserved win.

Heatley squandered an early chance by pushing his shot wide after bursting clear and with only Coleman to beat.

Dungannon also threatened and Sean O'Neill saved from Matt Hazley's free-kick before keeping out an Andrew Mitchell strike.

Adamson cushioned his header beyond Coleman from McClean's deep cross for the only goal of the game.

Former Dungannon striker Timmy Adamson celebrates after his first-half goal for the north Belfast side

The Crues pressed for a second goal with Richard Clarke rifling just wide before Whyte sprinted clear but failed to beat Coleman.

Coleman denied Diarmuid O'Carroll before pushing Adamson's header back into the path of the striker, who could only find the bar from two yards out.

The Swifts keeper made a another fine stop from Heatley's shot, although the ball flew up in the air and was going in when Grieve made his goal-line clearance.

Coleman prevented an own goal by saving Douglas Wilson's headed clearance from a Heatley cross.

Stephen Baxter's team move up a place to third while Dungannon remain 11th and three points above basement side Warrenpoint Town.

"We did what we had to do - we were well on top from start to finish," said the Crusaders boss.

"However, it was 1-0 and we had six or seven more chances to add to it and we really should be converting those opportunities."