TWO certainties emerged from a floodlit Seaview last night: Crusaders are major contenders to Linfield’s throne and Warrenpoint will be relegation candidates.
The north Belfast men swept aside last night’s Premiership new boys with the minimum of fuss.
At times, it was embarrassingly easy for Crusaders as they racked up an unassailable 4-0 advantage after 37 minutes.
Jordan Owens, Paul Heatley, Jordan Forsythe and a Gavin Whyte penalty made the points safe for the home side, while second-half substitute Michael Carvill completed the rout.
’Point boss Matthew Tipton is a man rarely lost for words but even he seemed shell-shocked by the first 45 minutes that could easily have reached double figures for Crusaders.
Granted, it’s not every week Warrenpoint will encounter the quality of last night’s opponents – but there were worrying signs for Tipton as his men stood off the Crusaders players passively awaiting their fate.
The floodgates opened as early as the fifth minute when Jordan Owens poked home from close range after an inch-perfect cross by the excellent Billy Joe Burns.
Seven minutes later, Warrenpoint’s world was falling apart.
Declan Caddell, who had the freedom of the Shore Road, never mind Seaview last night, crossed from the right for Paul Heatley to nod past the hapless Alan Blayney.
All the trouble was coming down the visitors’ left side when Stephen Lowry found the unmarked Jordan Forsythe who calmly slotted from 12 yards out.
On the rare occasion Warrenpoint got into Crusaders’ half, Darren Murray had two free-kicks comfortably saved by Brian Jensen.
Owens could easily have had four goals in a painfully one-sided first half.
The big Crusaders striker fired over the bar when well placed and missed the target again on the stroke of half-time.
Eight minutes before the interval, Gavin Whyte made it 4-0 from the penalty spot after Caddell was tripped in the area by Jordan Lyttle.
It was no surprise Tipton made a double substitution at the break with Lorcan Forde and Josh Lynch thrown in to try and improve things – and, in fairness, the pair showed more spirit –while Crusaders schemer Michael Carvill came in for Owens (dead leg) at the restart.
With the points already in the bag, the opening exchanges of the second half were desperately ragged.
Forde showed moments of quality but the visitors sorely lacked a cutting edge to their play.
Even though Warrenpoint showed more fight in the second half, which wasn’t difficult given their tepid first half show, there was an inevitability about the home side’s fifth goal – and it was a clever finish from Carvill on 68 minutes.
The former Linfield man latched on to Forsythe’s well directed flick-on to poke the ball beyond Blayney’s despairing dive.
From then on, the game trundled to a predictable conclusion.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Warrenpoint escaped with a 5-0 drubbing last night.
And that is the biggest worry for the Co Down club over the coming weeks.
CLIFTONVILLE came back down to earth with a bang when they lost 2-0 away to Coleraine.
Barry Gray’s men had been emphatic winners against Ards last Saturday, but were largely disappointing at the Showgrounds. Josh Carson gave Oran Kearney’s side the lead in the second half following a fine team move.
Jamie McGonigle doubled the lead after Levi Ives lost possession at left back and Carson found McGonigle, who turned sweetly to fire into the corner. Cliftonville rallied late on, but it was to no avail.
There were goals galore at Mourneview Park where Glenavon enjoyed a 6-2 win against Ballinamallard.
The visitors took the lead through a first half Ryan Curran penalty, which was quickly cancelled out by Rhys Marshall.
On 52 minutes Adam Foley put Glenavon 2-1 up and then 3-1 up before Andrew Mitchell got his first goal for the club.
Foley brought up his hat-trick minutes later. Curran pulled one back on 72 minutes, but Andrew Mitchell wrapped it up with his second.
Elsewhere, champions Linfield scored a comfortable win 2-0 away to Ards.
Mark Haughey gave them the lead on 19 minutes with a close range finish, and Kirk Millar headed in the second on 28.
Glentoran followed up their opening day win with a 2-0 win at home to Dungannon Swifts.
John McGuigan touched in the opener with 12 minutes on the clock and in the second half Curtis Allen got his third of the season with a left-foot finish.
Carrick and Ballymena played out a 1-1 draw at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena.
The Braidmen went in front following an own goal by former United defender Denver Gage and Carrick equalised after an hour through Andrew Mooney to give both side their first point of the season.
Danske Bank Premiership
Ards 0 Linfield 2
Carrick 1 Ballymena 1
Coleraine 2 Cliftonville 0
Crusaders 5 Warrenpoint Town 0
Glenavon 6 Ballinamallard Utd 2
Glentoran 2 Dungannon Swifts 0
