Summary

  • Coleraine 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

  • Darren McCauley scores winner for leaders

  • Crusaders beat Warrenpoint 3-2

  • Heatley, Forsythe & Owens for Crues

  1. Chances at both endspublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    A flashing drive across goal from Paul Heatley can't be more than a few milimetres wide of the far post.

    Then a moment later Stephen Murray drives towards goal on the break, his shot from just outside the area goes over the bar.

    The start of this second half is similar in pattern to the first. Crusaders with much of the territory but Warrenpoint looking threatening on the break.

  2. CLOSE!published at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Rodney Brown plays it up to Cushley who has his back to goal but deftly flicks on to Matthew Snoddy who is through on goal.

    Just as Snoddy looks set to pull the trigger, two Warrenpoint defenders slide in to whip the ball of the Crues midfielder's toes.

  3. Having a Laff!published at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Northern Ireland international Kyle Lafferty gave Hearts the lead against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership this afternoon

    Kyle Lafferty celebratesImage source, Twitter
  4. Talk of the Townpublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    See how Warrenpoint came from 1-0 down to take an interval lead against Crusaders thanks to goals by Martin Murray and Darren Murray.

    Media caption,

    Warrenpoint fight back to lead against Crues

  5. Heatley's openerpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Media caption,

    Crusaders winger Paul Heatley opens the scoring at Milltown

  6. Magic from McCauleypublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Coleraine 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

    Media caption,

    Darren McCauley hits the bottom corner to give Coleraine the lead against Dungannon

  7. Crusaders put faith in attackpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Crusaders boast a squad depth that is the envy of most other teams in the league. David Cushley is on at the start of the second half in place of Declan Caddell.

    As Philip Major has pointed out on Sportsound, it's going to be important for Warrenpoint to remain a threat going forward in this half, they can't just invite pressure.

  8. CLOSE!published at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Coleraine 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

    The Bannsiders are first to threaten in the second half with midfielder Josh Carson blazing just wide from 20 yards. Snow is now falling at the Showgrounds but it's not settling on the surface and we should see out the full 90 minutes.

  9. Darren's delightpublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Darren Murray celebrates after putting Warrenpoint 2-1 ahead against the CruesImage source, Pacemaker
    Image caption,

    Darren Murray celebrates after putting Warrenpoint 2-1 ahead against the Crues

  10. Spotlight now on Warrenpoint defencepublished at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Quote Message

    Matthew Tipton will be delighted. Warrenpoint did struggle to get into the game but when they did fashion some chances they were able to put the ball in the net. If you look at their record this season, they have done well in front of goal but it's at the other end where they've had problems this season. So that's a reason why Stephen Baxter and his players will feel that they can probably get back into the game.

    Philip Major, Saturday Sportsound Summariser

  11. Bannsiders below parpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Coleraine 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

    Quote Message

    Coleraine will be delighted to go in with their noses in front. Darren McCauley's wonder strike, that alone, separates the sides. Coleraine can do much, much better. Dungannon had the extra man in the middle of the park but Coleraine brought Josh Carson in from the right that they evened it up - it has made a big difference.

    Roy Walker, Saturday Sportsound summariser

  12. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Just before the whistle Warrenpoint have a chance to stretch their lead, only a smart save from Sean O'Neill stops Darren Murray from making it 3-1.

    Paul Heatley gave Crusaders the lead finishing from Billy Joe Burns' cross, but the home side came roaring back.

    Could it be a very Murray Christmas (sorry) for Warrenpoint? They equalised through Martin Murray who finished the rebound after Stephen Murray's header came back off the post.

    It was Stephen again who made the second, a wonderful volley well saved by O'Neill, but Darren Murray was on hand to put in the rebound.

    Great half.

  13. HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Coleraine 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

    A super strike from Darren McCauley separates the sides in what has been a fairly even opening 45 minutes.

  14. Crusaders are shell shockedpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Going a goal down would appear to have been the best thing that could have happened to Warrenpoint.

    After a slowish start this game is now a brilliant end-to-end affair. Gavin Whyte is the latest to try his luck from just inside the area as crusaders seek an equaliser, but his effort flies over the bar.

  15. goal

    GOALpublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 2-1 Crusaders

    Darren Murray has the goal, but this is all about Stephen Murray.

    A quite wonderful piece of skill on the left side of the box as he cushions the ball over a defender's head before unleashing a fierce volley. Sean O'Neill gets two hands to the effort but Darren Murray is on hand to finish the rebound.

  16. goal

    GOALpublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 1-1 Crusaders

    Out of nowhere Warrenpoint are level! Sean Mackle's cross is well met by Stephen Murray whose header bounces against the post.

    Martin Murray reacts quickest to the loose ball, finishing the rebound from close range.

  17. Crusaders continue to presspublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 0-1 Crusaders

    Colin Coates goes close to doubling the Crues' lead. The defender meets a corner at the back post but heads against the outside of the upright.

  18. goal

    GOALpublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Coleraine 1-0 Dungannon Swifts

    Darren McCauley fires the Bannsiders in front on 35 minutes. The leaders have been pretty lacklustre and it required a quality long-range strike to break the deadlock. The ball falls to McCauley 25 yards out and the winger drills low and hard into the bottom corner. A fine finish and a 10th goal of the season for Coleraine's top scorer.

  19. goal

    GOALpublished at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 0-1 Crusaders

    It's been coming, and Paul Heatley has looked the most likely source of the opening goal.

    Billy Joe Burns whips in a cross from the right that finds Heatley in behind the Warrenpoint defence. The forward's first touch takes the ball down and the second slots it beyond Jonny Parr.

  20. Close!published at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2017

    Warrenpoint Town 0-0 Crusaders

    First chance for Warrenpoint and it is not far off. Captain Sean Mackle lines up a free kick from 25 yards out, dead centre.

    It's over the wall and curling agonisingly wide of the post.