30-03-02
Another great result for the town following the excellent performance of defending champions Linfield.
Omagh push for a European place continued with this comfortable win over bottom club Crusaders at St. Julian’s Road. With an improved performance against the team who convincingly beat Omagh when they last met at seaview. The final score was 7-2.
All three goals came from Omagh’s on form Andrew Crawford, the first arriving in the fourth minute when he directed a rebound past Crues keeper Paul Kee after defender Gareth McAuley had blocked his initial effort.
The visitors started to test Omagh as the first half drew to a close, with efforts from Ryan Marks and Lee Galbraith.
However, it was Omagh who came closest to scoring again when, early in the second half, Paul Muir cleared a Stephen Johnston chance off the line.
Crawford then had a goal ruled out for offside before eventually adding a second seven minutes from time with a well executed left foot strike.
sixty seconds later Crawford grabbed the hat-trick from a spot-kick awarded when Galbraith pulled down Dermot Doherty.
Omagh Town: Cullen, Johnston, Kelly, McLaughlin, Quigley, Boyle, Crawford (4, 83 & 84), McCann, Patton, Doherty, Friel subs McElholm, Sproule, Kavanagh
Crusaders: Kee, Dornan, Muir, Handford, McAuley, Galbraith, Dickson, McMenamin, Baxter, Campbell, Marks subs Magill, McPherson, Davis
Referee: Adrian McCourt (Bangor)