Crusaders 0 Bohemians 0:BOHEMIANS came away from north Belfast with a creditable 0-0 draw after a hard-fought first-leg tie against Crusaders.
The home side, which included three Northern Ireland internationals in Colin Coates, Stuart Dallas and Jordan Owens, missed a string of good chances against the side managed by their former player and manager Aaron Callaghan.
Matthew Snoddy thought he had given Crusaders the lead in the 10th minute when he turned the ball in from six yards, after Craig Sexton had saved a Chris Morrow shot, but linesman Mervyn Smyth rightly ruled Snoddy offside.
The best chance of the first half arrived in the 43rd minute when Chris Morrow sent Owens through, but he hesitated, allowing Craig Sexton to make the save. Meanwhile, Evan McMillan headed an Owens header off the line in the 61st minute.
Bohemians had a shout for a penalty turned down in the 68th minute when Davy Byrne’s effort appeared to strike the hand of Paul Leeman, but referee Brian Turkington waved away the protests. He then sent Bohemians manager Callaghan to the stands in injury-time.
CRUSADERS: ONeill, McKeown, Gargan, Leeman, Coates, McMaster, Morrow, Caddell, Dallas, Snoddy (68 Adamson), Owens (81 Rainey).
BOHEMIANS: Sexton, Pender, Feeley, McMillan, Harney (81 Lopes), McAvoy, Traynor, Dixon, Wilson (59 Davison), OConnor (59 Byrne), Martin.
Referee: Brian Turkington (Belfast).
