Crewe United grab all three points as they edge ten goal thriller against Broomhill in opening match

The Glenavy men ran out 6-4 winners to get off to a winning start in the Mid Ulster League’s top division.

The home side got off to a blistering start, exerting all the pressure from the kick off.

It wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken as after 10 minutes Mark McCullough pounced on a short back pass to hammer the ball off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net from 12 yards out.

Crewe continued to press after the goal and a Tommy McBride corner saw Sean McAteer leap above the Broomhill defence to power home for Crewe’s second goal with only 15 minutes gone.

The visitors looked shell shocked and things were about to get worse as Mark McCullough was hauled down in the box for a penalty.

McCullough stepped up to take the spot kick but the keeper saved low to his left.

Tommy McBride followed up to smash home from five yards out to make it three without reply to Crewe.

This cushion didn’t last long however as Broomhill dusted themselves down and came back at Crewe.

A long through ball caught the home defence asleep and Jason Dickson slotted the ball past Corey Wilson, who played for Institue in the Premiership, in the Crewe goal.

Crewe quickly responded with a fourth, another set piece from McBride was finished off by new signing Nathan Finlay who had gone up for the corner.

The scoring wasn’t finished however as five minutes from the half time whistle Crewe were again guilty of sloppy defending and Broomhill made good progress down the right.

A cut back saw Jason Harper bang home from eight yards out.

The second half continued in the same vain as the first with both sides attacking at every opportunity.

Broomhill came out strong and threated the Crewe goal after a set piece and hit the woodwork twice in quick succession.

It was a warning sign and it wasn’t long before Dickson got his second of the game which was just reward for the effort of the visitors to make it 4-3.

Crewe captain Fra McGuinness was introduced on the hour mark as manager Colin Telford sought to change the pattern of the game.

It wasn’t long before McGuinness made his impact as he slotted the ball home after good work from Mark McCullough to make it 5-3.

The game was far from over as Broomhill still tried to come forward and a diagonal ball opened up the Crewe defence again and Harper neatly finished past Wilson again as he cut in from the left hand side to draw the visitors within one goal of Crewe.

The game however was won by a sublime free kick from Craig Leworthy as the he stepped up and curled a free kick over the Broomhill wall and into the top corner to seal all three points.

McGuinness should have made it seven for Crewe but missed with the goal at his mercy from six yards out.