Crusaders started the game at a frantic pace and had the better of the opening exchanges. After 5 minutes the visitors created the first chance of the afternoon when Sid Burrows found himself in space. He drilled a low shot which Coleraine keeper Wes Lamont did well to save with an outstretched boot and from the rebound Donal O'Brien sent a shot past the post. Lamont was under pressure again minutes later when Stephen Baxter rose high to meet a Burrows corner, but the big keeper manager to fingertip the goalbound header onto the top of the bar. From the resulting corner, Eamon Doherty broke clear and released Brendan Aspinall whose weak shot posed no problems for Kevin McKeown. Coleraine were now beginning to settle and from a move on the right hand side, Paul Gaston should have converted Oliver McAuley's cross, but his outstretched boot failed to make contact. Crusaders opened the scoring after 25 minutes. Aspinall failed to make a decisive tackle on the dangerous Burrows, and his accurate cross was superbly headed home by top scorer Stephen Baxter. Going behind seemed to settle the home side, and Coleraine were well on top for the remainder of the half. The best chance of this period fell to David McCallan. A flowing build up saw Pat McAllister release Danny Shipp and his cross found McCallan poaching at the far post, but Coleraine's top scorer screwed his shot wide from close range.

Although Coleraine started the second half in arrears, their performance in the first period encouraged them to push forward. In particular, Crusaders seemed to have settled for the single goal, and their defensive tactics would make it difficult for them to pick up the tempo if Coleraine were to score. Consequently the second half was virtually one way traffic with the home side trying to break down the massed ranks of Crues defenders, while the visitors seemed determined to waste as much of the remaining time as possible. On the hour, Coleraine made the deserved breakthrough. A corner frome the on-form Johnny McIvor was met by Brendan Aspinall, and when his downward header was blocked by Kevin McKeown, Paul Gaston made no mistake from close range. Five minutes later, Crusaders made a rare sortie into the Coleraine half and when O'Brien powered a goalbound effort from 25 yards, Lamont made the save of the match, diving full-length to turn the ball around the post. From the resultant corner came one of the goals of the season. Eamon Docherty collected the breaking ball in his own penalty area and surged into the Crusaders half with Johnny McIvor in support. As the Crusaders defence tried to get back, Doherty hit a pinpoint cross from left to right towards Paul Gaston, whose cushioned header across the box was met by David McCallan who looped a header over the goalkeeper into the net. Now Crusaders tried to move forward, leaving more space for Coleraine to counter attack, and both Shipp and Doherty went close. With 6 minutes remaining on the clock, the ex-West Ham man should have sealed the victory after Gaston and Doherty combined to provide Shipp with a gilt-edged change, but he opted for placement when power would have been the better choice and his shot was kept out by McKeown. As the game moved into injury time, Coleraine made the points safe. Danny Shipp was released on the right and his cross was met on the first bounce by the head of David McCallan.

1. Wes Lamont

Wasn't kept overly busy, but Wes was dependable when called upon and made two match-saing stops. (9)

2. Oliver McAuley

Quieter than of late, but still as reliable as usual. (7)

3. Robbie Brunton

A solid performance, although Robbie could do more on the attacking front. He appears very reticant to cross the half-way line, when he is capable of doing damage in the opposing half. (7)

4. Brendan Aspinall

Sometines dodgy with the ball at his feet, but Brendan was solid in the air and always a dangerous presence at set-pieces. (8)

5. Paul Gaston

Another majestic performance. Gacky has committed himself to the club into the next century, but surely the cross-channel scouts are watching. (8)

6. Eamon Doherty

Doc is continuing his rehabilitation following his disapointing return from injury. This was an impressive performance, capped by the surging run and cross for the vital second goal. (7)

7. Sam Shiels

Forced to play wide on the right by the return of David McCallan and the absence of Greg O'Dowd, but he put in a good performance, particularly in the first half. (7)

8. David McCallan

Man of the Match. Didn't do much in the first half (apart from getting kicked everytime the ball came near) but he's deadly from 6 yards the scored two priceless goals from the only two decent chances which came his way. (9)

9. Danny Shipp

Didn't get much change from the uncompromising Crusaders defence, but he worked hard throughout. Should have scored with the chance near the end. (7)

10. Pat McAllister

Withdrawn with what loks like a nasty knee injury near the end, but the soon-to-be-suspended captain was a powerfull presence in the midfield. (7)

11. Johnny McIvor

A close contender for Man of the Match. Johnny gave Alan Dornan a torrid time and was in the thick of most of Coleraine's good moments. (8)

sub Conor McKeever (for Shiels)

Held the ball up well to relieve the pressure in a vital period near the end (7)

sub Stephen Young (for McAllister)

Held the midfield together well after McAllister's departure. (7)