Victory in Stephen Baxter’s 953rd fixture as Crues boss is expected to now delay his plans to step down from the club to lead the Seaview side into Europe for a 13th time.
On a day of expected farewells for Crusaders as Paul Heatley signed off his playing career with the club, it was another key long-serving member of the Baxter era who grabbed the glory.
Jordan Owens gained a decisive touch in the 92nd minute with a close-range finish after Jordan Forsythe fired goalwards at the second attempt following Ross Clarke’s corner-kick delivery, an Adam Lecky header back across the box and Lewis Barr cutback.
It wrapped up a thrilling European play-off final as Crusaders battled back from a goal down to hold the lead at 2-1 before Coleraine left it level and, with play ticking towards extra-time, the hosts delivered a final twist.
Jamie McGonigle, a former Crues player, broke the deadlock for Coleraine on four minutes by collecting Matthew Shevlin’s headed pass and drilling home from a tight angle on the left-hand side of the box.
Heatley served up an assist on his final appearance to help Crusaders equalise when he slipped a ball into the path of the on-rushing Jarlath O’Rourke and the left-back’s right-foot finish curled into the bottom corner.
Within two minutes it was 2-1 to Crusaders as Forsythe’s free-kick delivery created problems in the Coleraine penalty area and Daniel Larmour smashed the loose ball goalwards, with a deflection helping steer it into the net.
Coleraine hit back in spectacular style on 71 minutes off Josh Carson’s superb long-range strike into the top corner.
Adam Lecky had a goal ruled out for the Crues but Baxter’s men continued to push and Owens claimed a final touch on Forsythe’s effort to ensure Europa Conference League football and a significant financial boost.
CRUSADERS: Tuffey, Forsythe, Larmour, Barr, O’Rourke, Weir, Lowry, Kennedy, Clarke, Heatley, Lecky.
Subs: Williamson, Joshua, Owens, Winchester, Nixon, Boyd, James.
COLERAINE: Brown, Kane, O’Donnell, Kely, Jarvis, J Scott, Carson, Glackin, A Scott, Shevlin, McGonigle.
Subs: Gallagher, McKendry, Lowry, McDaid, Lynch, Cole, Gaston.
2024-05-06T16:45:00Z dg43tfdfdgfd