CRUSADERS came from behind to claim all three points from this Group B encounter at Seaview and now stand on the verge of a place in the last eight.

However, the outcome of the whole group is still uncertain.

On paper Ballymena United are out of the competition but with the eligibility issue surrounding Limavady's Stephen Parkhouse still to be resolved Tommy Wright's side could be thrown a points lifeline at the expense of the Roesiders - and as a result could yet overhaul Stephen Baxter's side.

The Sky Blues opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Garth Scates delivered a low shot past Aaron Hogg. The move started in midfield when Crues stalwart Raymond Campbell lost possession which allowed Kevin Kelbie to bring the ball forward before supplying the telling pass.

Crusaders levelled, however, eight minutes from the break. Campbell made amends for his earlier mistake when he found Chris Morrow who, in turn, provided the cross for David Rainey to slot past Paul Murphy.

Both sides might have taken the advantage early in the second half when first Austin Friel for the visitors and Rainey for the Crues threatened but it was United who came closest five minutes from time when Mark Picking unleashed a 25-yard effort only to see it cannon back off the crossbar.

However, just three minutes later, David Larmour secured the points for Crusaders with a close range drive after a Colin Coates attempt had been blocked.

Crusaders: Hogg, Magowan, Beggs, Campbell, Spiers, Coates, Munster, Morrow, Larmour, Rainey, McBride subs Gargin (replaced Beggs), McAllister (replaced Campbell), Spence (not used)

Ballymena United: P. Murphy, Callaghan, Boyd, Haveron, Alb Watson, Simms, Scates, Patrick, Friel, Kelbie, D. Murphy subs Picking (replaced Boyd), Fitzgerald (replaced Friel), Brown (replaced Kelbie)

Referee: Stephen Weatherall (Belfast)