Sport

Glentoran come from behind to beat Crusaders

Crusaders' Philip Lowry and Glentoran's Michael O'Connor in action during Friday's game at Seaveiw<br/>Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker&nbsp;
Crusaders' Philip Lowry and Glentoran's Michael O'Connor in action during Friday's game at Seaveiw
Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker 
Crusaders' Philip Lowry and Glentoran's Michael O'Connor in action during Friday's game at Seaveiw
Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker 

Danske Bank Premiership: Crusaders 1 Glentoran 2, Larne 0 Cliftonville 1

GLENTORAN came from behind to beat 10-man Crusaders at Seaview on Friday to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.

Josh Robinson gave Crusaders the lead in the first-half as he ran off his marker to head home a Ben Kennedy corner. The Glens weren’t happy, though, as they felt there was a free-kick given to the hosts in the build-up that shouldn't have been awarded.

Conor McMenamin equalised right at the start of the second half - a long ball was bouncing in the box and he flicked it over two defenders before calmly drilling a clean left-foot half-volley beyond Jonny Tuffey into the far corner.

Referee Jamie Robinson made a huge call in showing a straight red card to Crusaders midfielder Jude Winchester, who was making his first start, for a challenge on Joe Crowe.

Glentoran went 2-1 up thanks to a Robbie McDaid header on 65 minutes. It was fantastic work down the left from Conor McMenamin, who cut inside and delivered a beautiful cross that McDaid met with a quality header that gave Jonny Tuffey no chance.

Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter was sent to the stands late on after an altercation with Robinson.

At Inver Park, Cliftonville kept themselves in touch with the Glens and Linfield with a win over Larne.

The Reds took the lead after 15 minutes through Ryan Curran. Johnny Addis launched a ball out of defence and Curran beat Rohan Ferguson in the race to the ball and headed home from inside the area. The forward was injured in the resulting collision with the Larne ’keeper but is up on his feet again after receiving treatment.