The Crues had a pretty strong line-up with a number of first team players and when I saw their team before the game, I probably wouldn't have been too upset with a draw.

The reality, however, is that we were 2-0 up and looking good for victory until a real turning point when we had Ryan Kane sent off after retaliating to something that had gone on off the ball with Stephen Shaw.

Ryan knows that he was foolish to react because the sending off certainly turned the game against us and it definitely wasn't the way he would have wanted to mark his debut - a shame, because he had done well up to that point against a good opponent like Shaw.

To make it even more heart-breaking, Crusaders didn't score their goals until the 87th and 93rd minutes, just as it looked as though we might hold on.

Earlier, Randal Reid, who had come on as an early sub for Darren Fitzgerald, who injured his neck, had put us ahead, following up like a good striker after Ryan Kane had lifted the ball over the keeper and goalwards.

Paul Brown, who was absolutely superb, especially later when we were down to 10 men, scored the second early in the second half from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Barry Spence - ironic, given what had happened between the two in the opening first team match of the season.

Had we held on to win, we would have gone to the top of the group but we certainly aren't out of it. We know we have to beat Limavady twice in our remaining games and I can see Portadown and Crusaders taking points off each other in their two meetings so top spot is still very much our target.

Reserves: Sean O'Neill, Mark Watson, Lee Colligan, Andy Phillips, Chris Getty, Dominic Melly, Ryan Kane, Gareth McConaghie, Andrew Rosbotham (sub David Cushley), Paul Brown, Darren Fitzgerald (sub Randal Reid, sub Keith Armstrong).

David Dorrian