Just hours after American takeover is confirmed, Carrick Rangers concede nine goals
Crusaders 9 Carrick Rangers 0
Carrick Rangers manager Stuart King hangs his head in disappointment as his team concede nine goals
Ben Kennedy celebrates one of his four goals with Jordan Forsythe
The Crusaders players congratulate Phil Lowry on his goal
Jimmy Callacher scored Crusaders' eighth goal of the night
James Teelan completed the scoring for Crusaders
On the day Carrick Rangers were taken over by an American businessman, Crusaders midfielder Ben Kennedy stole the show by hitting a sensational four goals in a dramatic 19 minutes at Seaview.
Stuart King’s 10-man team were totally blown away by a fantastic Crusaders performance – with Kennedy the tormentor in chief.
Having learned of the potentially lucrative financial investment only hours earlier, Rangers slumped to their third Sports Direct Premiership defeat in four starts – the money from majority shareholder Michael Smith can’t come quickly enough for King and his team.
The Portland native will be in town at the weekend to get up close and personal with his new club in their game against Linfield at Windsor Park.
In contrast, it was business as usual for Crusaders, who racked up their third win on the bounce. Stephen Baxter’s boys were unplayable in a one-sided opening half.
Paul Heatley got the party under way before Kennedy, who missed most of last season because of injury, went to work with a blistering performance. Their task was made much more easier when Kyle Cherry was dismissed on 24 minutes.
After the restart, Philip Lowry, Billy Joe Burns, Jimmy Callacher – his first goal for the club – and substitute James Teelan piled on the agony. It was Crusaders biggest home Premiership victory.
Heatley began the carnage on 11 minutes. He gobbled up a delicious
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