Crusaders boss Declan Caddell wants Seaview to be a fortress after first victory of the campaign
Crusaders boss Declan Caddell wants Seaview to be a fortress after his side picked up their first points of the season with a 2-1 win over Ballymena United. The win marks a crucial turning point for the team.
What happened?
The match saw Ballymena United take an early lead through Igor Rutkowski's finish, but Crusaders quickly levelled as Owen Wardell sent a dangerous ball into the area which took a deflection off Sky Blues defender Daithi McCallion and into the net. Soon after, the comeback was complete when Wardell took centre stage when his low finish left David Walsh with no chance, although the visitors were adamant there was a foul in the build-up.
Why it matters for Ballymena United
The defeat marks a setback for Ballymena United, who started the campaign with a statement 3-0 win at Linfield last weekend. The team will look to bounce back from the loss and regain their momentum in the league.
What comes next?
Crusaders will hope to back up that win with another success as they welcome Portadown to Seaview next Saturday. Caddell wants Seaview to be a fortress again, saying it was too easy for teams to come last year and turn them over. He believes that starts with a wee bit of hard work, a wee bit of fight, communication, organisation, and all those basic things to get that result.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 10th in Northern Ireland Premiership, 34 pts, 9W-7D-17L from 33 games, recent form LLDWD. Goals this season: 39 scored, 50 conceded (-11 goal difference). Title race: 39 points behind leaders Larne. Next fixture: vs Cliftonville FC (at home, 2026-11-28) (5th in the table).
