ONCE Crusaders wrapped up a 3-0 win over Knockbreda in the Irish Cup, manager Declan Caddell moved swiftly to protect his players.
The Crues scored twice in the opening ten minutes to take the wind out of Knockbreda’s sails, a neat finish from Phil Lowry and a beautiful drive from Jordan Forsythe.
The PIL team rallied briefly late in the first half, but Forsythe applied the coup de grace from the penalty spot on 55 minutes, prompting Caddell to make changes.
Jimmy Callacher, Jarlath O’Rourke and Harry Franklin were swapped for Leon Barr (16), Brandon Downey (16) and the more experienced Stewart Nixon, while Josh Williamson (16) had already replaced Ross Clarke.
Crusaders play host to reigning Champions Larne on Tuesday night and this was a factor in Caddell’s thinking.
“Jimmy is more precautionary than anything”, said the Crues boss.
“Coming back from his injury I like to manage him as best as I can.
“We have a huge game tomorrow night against Larne and the last thing I wanted was another 90 minutes going into that game.
“The others picked up little niggles, nothing serious, but with the injury list we have I can’t take that chance by continuing to play them.
“For me, the game was over so it was the right time to get all of them off, and at that, you saw the introduction of some of the younger lads, two sixteen-year-olds.
“That’s their first experience of Irish Cup football, and that’s a positive.”
Caddell still has players like Adam Lecky and Billy Joe Burns on the long-term injury list but is hopeful of seeing the return of Robbie Weir, Lloyd Anderson, Kieran Offord, Jordan Stewart and Harry Jewitt-White in the coming weeks.
Crusaders signed striker Josh O’Connor – son of former Scotland striker Garry O’Connor – last week but says the imminent return of these players means any further activity in the market will be limited.
“I tried to get Josh in over the summer. I didn’t get him but when he became available I went out to get him.
“It was his first game, I thought he did well and gave a good account of himself in his first showing.
“Josh is a clever, clever player, and that’s why I signed him
“You’re always on the lookout in the transfer window, but it depends if something comes up.
“Am I looking? Probably not. I very rarely go looking, but if something comes up that might interest me? Then yes, of course, you have to entertain that and explore it.
“But, at the minute, I don’t really want to take that risk.
“Yes, we are short on numbers, but the majority of the boys who are injured should be back in the next week or two.
“By the time you go and get a new signing, those players will be back so it’s now about shutting the door and navigating the next few weeks when we get more bodies back.”
