Crusaders v Coleraine Match preivew and Info and goals from last season

When Saturday comes, Coleraine will travel to Seaview on the Shore Road Belfast the home of Crusaders FC (The Hatchetmen) in the Carling Premiership.  Crusaders play on a 4g pitch, unfortunately they don't have a traditional grass pitch, which we would all prefer. No mucky knees from this game or grass stains for the kit man to remove. 

 

Seaview is a compact ground with the fans close to the pitch, an old traditional football stadium etched in history. Coleraine fans have a cracking view from the away end terracing and are close to the action.  There is always a warm welcome for the Coleraine fans in Crusaders Social club and generally an away trip the Coleraine faithful look forward to.  

 

Matches on 3g/4g Synthetic pitches

Coleraine played the Crues for the first time on their 4g pitch last season, Coleraine won 5-2, with Boyce scoring one and Rory Patterson scoring the other four goals in what will be a game Coleraine fans won't forget, for on the morning of the game, news broke that Patterson would be joining Glentoran at the end of the season, Coleraine fans were annoyed at his timing of the announcement and Patterson who came out onto the Seaview pitch late and after the ref had already started the game was booed by the huge travelling Coleraine support.  Typical Patterson however shut them up as he banged in four goals and a fantastic performance as the stripes hammered the Crues 5-2.

 

Coleraine earlier this season won 2-0 on Clintonville's first game on their new 3g pitch, so far these pitches have suited Coleraine FC as we also defeated Moyola Park in a pre season friendly on their synthetic pitch.  Lets hope it continues like this for Saturdays game against the Crues.

 

Crusaders go into this game having lost their last two league games shipping 13 goals, losing at home to Donegal Celtic 5-4 and away to Linfield 8-1.  So although they have taken two bad beatings and conceded a lot of goals they will be looking to tighten up in defence and get back to winning ways.  Coleraine go into the game having won their last league game which was away to Glenavon with Leon Knight bagging two goals in a 2-1 win for the Stripes. Last weekend Coleraine defeated Donegal Celtic 3-2 in a cracking cup tie at the showground's.  Hopefully we can continue unbeaten and take something from Saturdays game.

 

Coleraines last league meeting with Crusaders was back in August, the Crues ran out 3-0 winners, ex crues midfielder and new Coleraine summer signing Aaron Black saw red that day after only 6 minutes, by referee Raymond Crangle who yet again was shocking. Coleraine then faced an uphill struggle for the rest of the game, Crusaders goalscorers where Stuart Dallas with two and Martin Donnelly with the other.

 

Team: O’Hare, Harkness (Watt 83), McVey, Boyce (Lowry 79), Black, Scullion (Hegarty 14), Carson, Canning, McLaughlin, Harkin, Brown.

Unused Subs: Beverland, Tommons

Yellow Card: Canning - Red Card: Black 

 

 

 

 

 

Info

One to Watch - Stuart Dallas

Crusaders Manager- Stephen Baxter

Aaron Black - Ex Crusaders player now plays for Coleraine

Crusaders Nickname - The Hatchetmen

Crues Leading Scorer - Jordan Owens - 9 goals.

Crusaders have scored the most goals in the league this season - 29

Coleraine have scored the least - 11

In their seven home league games the Crues have conceded 17 goals.

Coleraine have conceded 8 goals in seven league home games this season

Coleraine have only won two out of their six away games this season.

 

Admission £10

Goals from Coleraines 5-2 win last season at Seaview