CRUES HAVE SIX APPEAL; JJB SPORTS PREMIERSHIP Baxter's men spark Swifts goal frenzy to close gap at top of JJB Premiership.

Byline: BY KEVIN HUGHES JUNIOR

D'GANNON S 3

CRUSADERS 6

CRUSADERS shrugged off their recent three-game losing blip to fill their fans with festive cheer as they slotted home SIX goals and made up ground in the Premiership title race.

Yet, amazingly, winning boss Stephen Baxter was reluctant to eulogise about a big three points - or the fact the north Belfast club has inched closer to the summit of the table.

"I'm a little bit disappointed to be honest," said Baxter. "I told the guys afterwards that it should have been 6-1 - I am a little annoyed about conceding three.

"But the manner of goals we scored was pleasing. It made it a great game of football for everyone here.

"We were pleased with our efforts. We have come off the back of three poor results and shown in this game that the character and commitment is there. To win and score six goals away from home is a good result."

Baxter was pleased the the response of his players after those recent losses to Linfield (2-3), Ballymena United (0-1) and Distillery (0-1).

"I asked them to step up and play this weekend and they answered me," he said. "I urged them to go out and express themselves - and they did just that.

"We were flagging a little at the end and I introduced Jordan Owens. He is a handful for anyone, has plenty of energy and wins a few balls in the air. He came on with 20 minutes to go and bagged two.

"Hats off to my players. But fair play to Dungannon who worked extremely hard and kept coming back at us throughout the 90 minutes."

Lively Crues winger Marty Donnelly was the architect of the opening goal midway through the first period, supplying defender Davy Magowan for a simple header.

It was 1-1 less than a minute later, though, when Swifts midfielder Terry Fitzpatrick rifled home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.

Crusaders were back in front six minutes from the break thanks to a superb volley from young Donnelly and seven minutes into the second half Alain Emerson despatched a deft header to make it 3-1.

Mark McAllister converted a Swifts penalty just past the hour after Crues skipper Colin Coates had fouled Dwayne McManus.

But four minutes later Mark Dickson scored an exquisite goal to make it 4-2 after leaving three defenders trailing in his wake.

Amazingly, the Swifts responded again soon after, McAllister crossing for Dwayne McManus to fire home.

Crusader put the result beyond doubt when Magowan crossed for substitute Jordan Owens to rise high and head home into the top corner.

Owens then stretched the winning margin when he met a Donnelly corner to head home unchallenged.

Swifts midfielder Rodney McAree was clear on where things went wrong and also what his side need to do after hitting a new low.

"It was a goal-fest and if you are going to defend like we did and not guard your area, you are going to concede goals" said McAree. "This result puts us bottom now and psychologically that is not a good place to be. You just have to look at how long it has taken Ballymena to get off it.

"We need to win the Boxing Day game with Institute - that is essential. Only by stringing wins together will we get off the bottom place of the table."

TOP MAN

MARTIN DONNELLY (Crusaders)

A real threat and scored a top volley

'It's good to get three points, but I'm a little bit disappointed to be honest. I am annoyed that we conceded three goals'

CAPTION(S):

FESTIVE CRACKERS DAVY Magowan celebrates Crusaders' opener while (below) Dickson makes it 4-2 with superb solo efort; GOAL Fitzpatrick celebrates