Highlights: Carrick Rangers 4-0 Crusaders

Mark Jones
BBC Sport NI contributor

Carrick Rangers produced a dominant second-half display to beat Crusaders 4-0 at Taylors Avenue.

It was the perfect start for the home side who broke the deadlock after five minutes when Adam Lecky gave the hosts the lead.

The visitors had no answer after the break as Jordan Forsythe, Danny Gibson and Daire O'Connor all scored in a dominant second half.

Victory for the hosts brings an end to their five-game winless run in the league, while the Crues will look to bounce back when they host champions Larne next weekend.

Gers too much for Crues

Carrick made a dream start in the fifth minute when Lecky rose highest to meet Paul Heatley's corner and, after his initial header was blocked off the line, the towering frontman converted at the second attempt.

That set the tone with Heatley proving a real threat in the opening exchanges and almost doubling the Gers' lead when he let fly with a low effort towards the near post, only for Shea Callister to gather the ball.

The pressure continued and, on 18 minutes, Aidan Steele latched onto a knockdown from Lecky and tried his luck from distance, but Robbie Weir was alert to the danger and quickly closed down the chance.

Crusaders should have been level halfway through the first half, when Elliot Dunlop dropped a shoulder out wide and drove forward with purpose before delivering a teasing cross to the near post, which Aaron Reid met with a firm header, only for the ball to cannon off the crossbar.

After the restart, Stephen Baxter's men upped the pressure and doubled their advantage in the 55th minute when Forsythe bundled home from the back post to after Scot Rough failed to clear the danger.

Eight minutes later, the points were all but secured when Gibson pounced on a failed clearance by Kurtis Forsythe following a Matthew Snoddy cross.

There was time to add a fourth when Heatley picked out substitute O'Connor in the penalty area and he added to the comfortable scoreline by side-footing into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

What the managers said

Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter: "I thought we were very professional and it was a real grown-up performance from us today."

"In the second half we dominated the possession, we dominated the territory, put the ball in their box and scored another three goals and might have got maybe one or two more.

"We denied the opposition any time on the ball, and when you do that, you've got to create your moments and opportunities and thankfully today, we did that."

Crusaders manager Declan Caddell: "We talked to the players long and hard all week about the game will be won in both boxes: how do we defend our box, how we attack, can we be ruthless in theirs, and we weren't either today."

"It wasn't as if Carrick tore us to shreds or played us off the park, it was the basics of defending in our own 18-yard box, that's what's disappointing for me.

"Four cross balls into the box and four goals. It's poor, really poor, so disappointing."