Brooks hits hat-trick as Crues win five-goal thriller

Irish Premiership Crusaders 3 - 2 Portadown FT Crusaders made it back-to-back wins as they came out on top against 10-man Portadown in a five-goal thriller at Seaview. Adam Brooks was the hat-trick hero for the Crues with his first half double seemingly putting the hosts in control against the Ports, who had Finn Flanagan sent off just before the break. David Jeffrey's men came out with renewed purpose for the second half despite their numerical disadvantage and Baris Altintop gave them further hope as he reduced the arrears on 55 minutes. But two minutes later, Brooks completed his treble before Eamon Fyfe struck another for Portadown before the hour mark to complete a crazy four-minute spell. Both sides carved out chances late in the game but it was the Crues who came away with the win and leave Portadown pointless after three games. Seaview side make a good start After a stop-start opening 10 minutes it was the hosts who broke the deadlock with 11 minutes on the clock. Harry Jewitt-White clipped the ball over the top for Kurtis Forsythe to race into the Portadown box and he cut the ball back for Brooks to poke home from close range. Brooks should have doubled his and the Crues' tally on 22 minutes as Owen Wardell picked him out in front of goal, but the forward blazed his first-time effort over the bar from six yards. Ben Kennedy was inches away from a leveller against his former employers on 26 minutes as Rhys Breen's clipped ball over the top sent the forward racing into the box, but the angle was against him and Shea Callister gathered at the second attempt. As we moved past the half hour mark, the home side doubled their lead as Brooks headed home his second from Wardell's inviting cross. Portadown's task was made even tougher on 39 minutes as they were reduced to 10 men with Flanagan shown a second yellow for a late challenge on Brooks in the centre circle. The Crues almost grabbed a third before the break but Elliot Dunlop's powerful effort was tipped over by Aaron McCarey. Portadown made the perfect start to the second half when Altintop volleyed in from 12 yards to halve the arrears but within two minutes, Brooks had completed his hat-trick as he latched onto a weak back pass from Jack Scott to round McCarey and slot home. The visitors weren't done just yet though as Fyfe made it three goals in four minutes with a tidy finish from 10 yards to keep his side in the game. They were almost two goals behind again on 61 minutes when Brooks let fly from the edge of the box with his shot crashing off the underside of the bar before bouncing on the line and away to safety. Brooks left to a standing ovation late in the game with his replacement, Aaron Reid almost grabbing a goal of his own as he clipped an effort off the woodwork. There was one big chance left for the Ports before the end as Kennedy got on the end of a deep cross, but he glanced his effort wide of the goal.