Lee Upton Sends Annagh United Ahead 4-3 Over Crusaders Fc
crusaders fc fell behind on aggregate in the second leg at Seaview after Lee Upton scored eight minutes into the second half, putting Annagh United 4-3 ahead overall. The goal turned a tie that had already swung on penalties and left Crusaders needing a response with the final half-hour still to play.
Seaview Turns on Two Penalties
Philip Donnelly broke the deadlock with an early penalty to give Annagh United the lead on the night, and the visitors carried a one-goal advantage into half-time. Before the break, Musa Dibaga kept Crusaders alive by denying Donnelly from the penalty spot again, while Kurtis Forsythe was cautioned for protesting after the second penalty incident.
That sequence left the home side chasing the tie after one first-half spot kick had already been converted and a second one had been turned away. Annagh United did not need long after the restart to stretch the pressure back onto Crusaders.
Upton Finishes Aaron Rogers Move
Eight minutes into the second half, Aaron Rogers flicked on Craig Taylor's throw-in and Upton finished from close range. The finish doubled Annagh United's lead on the night and pushed them 4-3 ahead on aggregate in the promotion/relegation play-off second leg.
Declan Caddell reacted at the break with a double change, sending on Stewart Nixon and Oli McCart for Keiran McKechnie and Lloyd Anderson. The switch came before the decisive second-half goal, but it did not stop Annagh United from finding the moment that changed the tie again.
Annagh United Hold the Upper Hand
With the aggregate score now in their favor, Annagh United moved into position to control the rest of the contest from a clean attacking sequence rather than from deep defending alone. Crusaders had already been forced to live with the damage from the early penalty and the missed second spot kick, and Upton's close-range finish raised the price of every remaining attack.
The tie now sits with Annagh United holding the advantage after the match's decisive swing at Seaview. Crusaders must answer the 4-3 aggregate deficit before the second leg runs out of minutes.
