Irish Premiership: Matthew Snoddy double gives Crusaders win over Ballinamallard

Matthew Snoddy scored a second-half double as Crusaders overcame Ballinamallard 2-0 in the Irish Premiership game at Seaview.

Snoddy opened the scoring on 65 minutes, flicking home past Richard Brush from Billy-Joe Burns' cross.

The midfielder added a second in the dying minutes, firing past Brush into the bottom corner.

Crusaders move level on points with second-place Glenavon, who have a superior goal difference.

Straight from kick off Crusaders were on the front foot as Declan Caddell beat the offside trap, with his effort deflected onto the post by Mallards defender Ross Taheny, who recovered to clear off the line.

It took Crusaders 13 minutes to have their next chance, Jordan Forsythe racing in behind the Mallards defence after Billy-Joe Burns' exquisite through ball, chipping over the advancing Brush but narrowly wide of the post.

The home side finally put the ball in the Ballinamallard net on 20 minutes, but Jordan Owens' powerful header from a Burns cross was ruled out for offside.

Then a lightning Crues break after a Ballinamallard free-kick resulted in Gavin Whyte forcing a flying save from Brush.

The Mallards' sole chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Jonathan Leddy, who fired his effort wide from the edge of the area before Brush produced another save to keep out Whyte's deflected strike at the other end.

Ryan Curran fired wide for the visitors when free at the back post before Snoddy flicked home his first goal of the season to put Crusaders ahead on 65 minutes.

Brush prevented Cursaders from moving further ahead, first keeping out Whyte's low effort, then having to be alert to keep out a low Burns drive.

However, Snoddy finally put the game out of sight in the final minute of normal time, racing on to Paul Heatley's chip through and firing across Brush into the bottom right corner.