Crusaders 2 Burnley 2

TURF MOOR free kick specialist David Eyres conjured up a late, late show to halt Ulster Champions Crusaders.

Player-manager Chris Waddle watched Burnley for the first time in senior competitive action at Seaview and Eyres' thunderous injury-time equaliser handed Burnley a share of the spoils.

While substitute Waddle did not feature in Belfast in the first of Burnley's pre-season warm-up fixtures in the province, he blooded three new signings.

Michael Williams, Steve Blatherwick and Mark Ford all made promising debuts.

Waddle said: "We did very well for 70 minutes, but we tired a little bit in the final quarter.

"That was understandable in the circumstances, because it was very warm and it was our first major run-out.

"It will be a week of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the squad and I believe a vital guide for the new season. There were some very positive points to come out of the match and I learned one or two things."

Burnley star of the show was gritty midfielder Mark Ford - a recent big money capture from Leeds United.

He caught the eye for the large contingent of Burnley fans who had made the weekend trip over from England.

And his combative display in the Clarets midfield department was a major plus for the new management team.

A morning mix-up at Belfast City Airport left Burnley minus their traditional playing strip.

But Crusaders rescued the situation, lending Burnley their red and black home strip.

With Crusaders already back in training for a month and busily preparing for their Champions League preliminary round tie with Dynamo Tbilisi on Wednesday, the Irish side were the brighter team in the first half.

Twice Crusaders came close to penetrating Burnley's defences with purposeful attacking forays.

The dangerous Steve Baxter tested Marlon Beresford and Donald O'Brien wasted the best opportunity, shooting wide after beating the Burnley offside trap. Burnley though, weathered the storm and broke into their stride early in the second half when Andy Cooke, who had caused Crusaders problems was hauled down by strapping defender Glenn Dunlop.

Last season's leading scorer Paul Barnes made no mistake with the penalty kick.

But there was a sting in the tail for the Clarets as Crusaders scored twice in the final quarter of the match.

Disappointingly for Burnley, both goals arrived from corner kicks - and the Burnley defence were caught cold as Baxter levelled the scores with an opportunist strike.

Then substitute Chris Morgan was on hand to head Crusaders in front as Burnley again failed to clear their ranks in time.

But Burnley rescued the game four minutes into injury time, David Eyres struck a powerfully taken free kick.

"It was a fair reward for all our hard efforts" added Waddle.

"I was particularly pleased with the new signings. They showed they will do a good job for us. The signs are quite promising."

BURNLEY

Beresford, Huxford, Vinnicombe (Matthew 70 mins), Williams, Winstanley, Hoyland, Blatherwick, Ford, Cooke, Barnes, Eyres. Subs: Harrison, Matthew, Gentile, Waddle, Woods (gk).

CRUSADERS

Grant, Lawlor, McCartney, Dunlop, Dornan, Arthur, O'Brien, Dwyer, Baxter, Hunter, Borrows.

ATTENDANCE: 350

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