Declan Caddell pleased to have experienced campaigner back at his disposal as Crusaders end four-match losing run

The Hatchetmen had to wait until the stroke of half-time to take a deserved lead when Fraser Bryden turned Lloyd Anderson’s shot towards goal. Despite Carrick stopper Nathan Gartside swatting the ball away, referee Shane McGonigle adjudged that the ball had crossed the line.

The hosts’ task got even tougher when midfielder Kyle Cherry received his marching orders for two bookable offences and Crusaders made their numerical advantage count when Elliot Dunlop’s cross was bundled over the line by Ross Clarke.

Carrick pulled a goal back late on through Paul Heatley’s finish but that was as good as it got as Crusaders clinched the 2-1 success.

"I think over the 90 minutes it’s a well deserved, three points,” he said.

"I thought we dominated, right up to probably the 89th minute until we conceded. Frustrating that way because we put ourselves under pressure for the last five or six but credit where credit's due, the boys dug in, showed character, probably character that’s been missing the last couple of weeks.

"For 88 minutes I thought we were outstanding, each to man, passed the ball well, dominated the play, scored two, possibly should have scored six or seven with that dominance, so good day all round.”

Crusaders have been the midst of an injury crisis recently but Caddell was pleased with the return of the experienced Clarke.

He added: "It was good to have Ross Clarke back to be fair, we've missed him the past couple of months. It'll probably take him a week to recover after that 90 minutes.

"We were trying to get him off but we couldn't but he probably epitomised that performance today and each day a man followed him.

"I thought the boys were outstanding, they wore their heart on the sleeve today and played for the badge today.

"That's something that's probably been missed the last couple of games which I wasn't too happy about but they showed that in abundance today.”