Ard times for Shane after Crues lesson; Crusaders 0 Ards 0.

Byline: JIM PALMER 

MAKE no mistake about this one - Crusaders didn't deserve a point on Saturday. They should have had all three.

No suggestions from Shane Reddish's Ards camp afterwards that they had been robbed because the truth was their performance deserved very little.

Ards defender Sean Cleary put his side's display firmly into perspective as he declared: "Our big name players just didn't perform today.

"My personal view is that some of them hid today and they just didn't want to win enough.

"You have to win the battles to win the points and we weren't prepared to do that today."

Ards didn't deserve anything and they have to thank a solid defensive display for keeping Crusaders at bay - that's now eight clean sheets out of nine games for Ards in 2004.

Crusaders were in fact first to the ball all over the Park during the 90 minutes, but when the chances came it was a case of indecisive finishing and meeting one of the league's leading keepers at the top of his form.

Former St Johnston keeper Stephen Robertson had luck on his side when Brian Russell put a headed sitter right into his chest but after that the Scot looked unbeatable.

He made a blinder of a save from Marty Robinson just before half time and on 66 minutes equalled that as he parried a low shot from James Willis past his left-hand post.

At the other end Crues' keeper Neil Armstrong was almost redundant as defenders Jeff Spiers, Stevie Livingstone and impressive southerner Donal Broughan had the Ards strikeforce in their pockets.

Darren Fitzgerald and Gary Kennedy have 34 goals between them this season but in this one they didn't get a kick.

Livingstone noted: "I thought we had enough play and possession to win the game but probably we didn't create enough chances.

"The ball didn't break for us in the penalty box but I think even the neutral fans would say that the Crues were the better team.

"The more the game wore on the more it was obvious that Ards were happy playing for a point.

"We have actually been playing very well in recent weeks, we have got in good players in the likes of Fox and Broughan and injured players are coming back so now we just have to turn draws into wins."

Ironically Ards could have won it at the end when Paddy Quinn miscued a super chance straight at keeper Armstrong.

"I believe in this team," said Crusaders boss Alan Dornan. "We competed superbly today against a so-called better side.

"We wanted three points, and it was another win which just got away from us - but I'm convinced we will win soon."

On big spending Ards' display, the straight talking Dornan said his club would continue to compete on smaller budgets.

"What amazes me is that players get pounds 300 to pounds 400 a week when we hear about cutbacks," he said.

"It's ridiculous when you consider that I have players who don't get a penny unless they play."

MIRROR MAN OF THE MATCH

Donal Broughan (Crusaders)

The southerner is a big influence on a very young Crusaders team

SO CLOSE.. HE HIT THE BAR

Stephen Robertson (Ards)

Produced two sensational saves to keep Ards in the contest

How did they go?

CRUSADERS

DESERVED to win - but didn't create enough in front of goal. Still a good point though for Dornan's men.

ARDS

BAD day at the office for Ards who didn't impose themselves on a supposedly weaker team. Have they one eye on the County Antrim Shield final?

CAPTION(S):

BRI AND TRY: Russell went very close against Ards