CRUSADERS’ Paul Heatley has defended the club from criticism that they are part of a trend that has seen standards in the Irish league decline.
The Shore Road men beat Linfield 1-0 on Saturday in what was a largely forgettable contest to move four points clear at the top of the table.
Jordan Owens grabbed the game’s only goal six minutes before half-time when he finished smartly after Linfield’s Mark Haughey had failed to deal with a Jordan Forsythe cross. The best it got for Linfield was when Aaron Burns struck the bar in injury time.
“I think everyone’s entitled to their opinion and I think the most important thing is to look at the facts,” insisted Heatley, who was last year’s player of the year.
“The facts are there for people to see and especially [with] Crusaders, we’ve been absolutely fantastic and the manager’s won every domestic competition there is as well as the Setanta Cup.
“And over the last few years we’ve managed to progress as well. Especially even in Europe where we have been coming up against professional full-time teams.
“Last year we beat the outfit in Lithuania and got through to the second qualifying round and this year in the Champions League we’ve done exactly the same and beaten a well-known team in Estonia.
“I think that speaks for itself. As the years progress we’re starting to establish ourselves across Europe as a team that can actually compete.”
On Saturday, the champions largely controlled proceedings and are currently on a run which has saw them beat Glenavon, Portadown and now Linfield. The ease with which they held their Belfast rivals at bay is ominous for any team hoping to depose them.
“I actually think we were extremely dominant from start to finish,” declared Heatley.
“To be honest it was one of those games where we went in with very little pressure because we’ve been in such good form and we’ve a fantastic record against Linfield over the last few years.
“So we went in with a lot of confidence and very little pressure – just being able to go out and just express our abilities and I think we did that very well.
“I think the only frustrating thing would maybe be that it finished one nil.
“From our perspective, the footballing side of our game on Saturday was absolutely fantastic.”
The problem for teams who come against Stephen Baxter’s side is that not only are they capable of dynamic attacking play, as best exemplified by Heatley himself, they also concede so very little. Their goal has only been breached 10 times so far this season.
“We had a quite a few early chances and we didn’t quite convert them,” said Heatley.
“They only had their first shot in the 86th minute so it was very, very dominating but to see the game at one nil, there’s always a possibility that you will concede the late goal and obviously they got their one opportunity – it hit the bar so we were grateful to be able to go out and get the three points.
“But we probably should have made it a little bit easier for ourselves because we were so on top throughout the game really.”
Next up for the Crues is a home game with Glentoran. With Linfield and Cliftonville also meeting next Saturday, it is an opportunity to widen that three point gap a little further.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Coleraine’s good run of form continued as they beat Portadown 4-0, with Darren McCauley grabbing a hat trick. James McLauglin was also on the score sheet for the Bannsiders.
Ciaran Caldwell’s first half strike for Glentoran against Ballymena United extended the Glen’s unbeaten run in all competitions to six.
Declan O’Brien also scored a hat trick for Glenavon as they enjoyed a resounding 5-1 home win against Ballinamallard United. Daniel Kearns opened the scoring and player-manager Gary Hamilton added the fifth from the penalty spot.
The Carrick Rangers/ Dungannon Swifts game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
On Friday night, Cliftonville took all three points against Warrenpoint Town at Solitude. Jude Winchester hit both goals in the second half with Daniel Hughes replying late on for the visitors.
