Irish Premiership: Crues retain Premiership status with shootout win over Annagh

Crusaders secured their Irish Premiership status for next season after a dramatic penalty shootout victory which sealed the play-off victory over Annagh United.

Musa Dibaga was the hero as he saved two penalties to keep the Shore Road side up, with the Crues winning 3-1 on penalties after the play-off finished 4-4 after 210 minutes of football.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to hit the front, as Josh Williamson clumsily brought down Aaron Rogers inside the area giving referee Declan Hassan no other option but to point to the spot.

Donnelly stepped up from 12-yards and made no mistake, dispatching off the spot kick despite Dibaga diving the right way.

Dibaga was called into action midway through the first half to deny Donnelly from a second goal of the evening, saving smartly to his left following a clean strike from the edge of the box from the goal scorer.

Just before the break, the visitors were awarded a second penalty of the half as Ryan Swan was brought down just inside the area. Up stepped Donnelly again with Dibaga diving the same way, this time making a crucial save to keep the score 1-0 at the break.

Just eight minutes after the restart Annagh were two in front. Craig Taylor’s long throw-in caused havoc in the box, with Aaron Rogers rising highest to flick a header on to Lee Upton who got on the end of it at full stretch to poke home.

The hosts got themselves back in it in the 71st minute as substitute Stewart Nixon fired home from inside the area after the ball fell kindly for him following a Josh Williamson free-kick that the Annagh defence failed to clear.

With the score at 4-4 across the two legs, extra time was needed in north Belfast. Both teams huffed and puffed but neither could find a winner meaning it was penalties that would ultimately decide the outcome of the dramatic play-off.

Dibaga will take the headlines after he saved two penalties as the Crues sealed their survival in the most dramatic of endings as a feeling of relief could be felt by Declan Caddell and everyone at Crusaders.