Carrick hit back to deny Crusaders

Irish Premiership Carrick Rangers 1 - 1 Crusaders FT Carrick Rangers and Crusaders played out a 1-1 draw at Taylors Avenue as the hosts recorded a fourth draw in five league outings. Harry Jewitt-White put the visitors ahead in the first half with a close-range finish after a scramble in the penalty area. Despite a spirited response from the Crues, Gers' top scorer Danny Gibson levelled shortly after the break, heading home to set up a grandstand finish. After being unable to be separated the hosts remain a point clear of the Crues, who missed the chance to climb into the top six. Crues rue missed chances as Gibson levels The home side made the brighter start and came close to taking the lead after nine minutes when Joe Crowe's searching ball released Gibson, only for the striker to be denied at the back post by an alert Shea Callister. That miss proved costly 11 minutes later, as the Crues struck with their first real opening as Owen Wardell's delivery broke kindly for Jewitt-White after Kurtis Forsythe's effort was blocked, leaving the midfielder to slot home from close range. The opener swung the momentum towards the visitors with Wardell's partially cleared free-kick falling to Elliot Dunlop on the edge of the area before his powerful drive flashed narrowly over the top corner. The hosts were left breathing another sigh of relief moments later when Aaron Reid's blocked effort broke kindly for Jacob Blaney, whose low drive skidded agonisingly wide of the far post. Just as Crusaders appeared set to take their slender advantage into the interval, Adam Lecky flicked Gartside's long ball into the path of Paul Heatley, who raced clear for Callister to stand tall and preserve the visitors' lead. That late opening offered a glimpse of what was to come as Carrick emerged from the break with renewed purpose. Jordan Forsythe's inviting delivery caught out Callister and allowed Gibson to head home his eighth league goal of the season. The visitors responded almost immediately and came within inches of regaining the lead when Jewitt-White beat Gartside with a thunderous strikefrom distance that crashed back off the crossbar. Stephen Baxter's men continued to look the more likely and almost completed the turnaround when Heatley's corner found Forsythe, whose powerful header looked destined for the net before Callister produced a superb reaction save on the line. What the managers said Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter: "In the end, you're obviously disappointed because I think anyone who watched the game today could see we deserved to win. "We absolutely battered them in the second half and were well on top. In the first half I felt we were playing in too many bad areas, and Adam Lecky was a little bit isolated, but we got closer to him in the second half and asked a lot of questions. "We kept getting into their penalty area, but the final ball just didn't fall for us today. Credit to their goalkeeper; he's made a number of good saves, but on another day that's a comfortable victory for us." Crusaders manager Declan Caddell: "I think it was a game of two halves. In the first half, we dominated, took the lead and played well. "In the second half, they put us under immense pressure, so credit to them, but also credit to our lads. We came here off the back of losing here by six goals and four goals previously, and they've learned from that. "That's learning, that's improving, and that's taking things on board. I feel like the last time we came here, we tried to play them at their own game, and it didn't work, but it's good to see they've taken that on board. "This is a difficult venue to come to, and every point in this league is precious, so it's important we bank that first-half performance and try to produce it over the full 90 minutes."