Crusaders boss Declan Caddell hailed his team’s character as they bagged a last-gasp winner to grab three vital Boyle Sports Premiership points against Glentoran at the BetMcLean Oval in a 2-1 triumph.

It was the north Belfast side’s third win on the bounce – they are now level with Carrick Rangers, Dungannon Swifts and Linfield, one point behind league leaders Coleraine.

Young Scot Owen Wardell shot the Crues into the lead just before the interval.

Glentoran levelled 22 minutes from time when Ben Gallagher headed home a cross from Ryan Cooney.

placeholder image — Crusaders' Owen Wardell fires towards goal at The Oval against Glentoran. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

But with the seconds ticking down the Crues struck again. This time Wardell’s low shot was spilled by Glentoran goalkeeper Billy Crellin with substitute Aaron Reid there to flick into the empty net.

“When you concede a goal to go one-each, it’s the worst thing that can happen at a ground like this because all the momentum was with Glentoran,” said Caddell. “But we dug in; we had to and we caught them on the counter (attack) which was part of the plan.

"We showed great guts and character to grind out the victory.

“We know we have pace up top to hurt any team.

"We scored two goals; we could have had more with better decision-making.

“We knew what Glentoran were all about, they put you under pressure with cross balls.

"Except for the goal we conceded, we dealt with that really well throughout the game.

“It as the first time we fell asleep.

"At times we had to put our bodies on the line...it’s a tough place to come but we stood up to it.”

Glentoran manager Declan Devine insisted his team paid the price for missing numerous gilt-edged chances.

“We missed a sack load, especially in the first half,” said the former Derry City and Bohemians manager. “We had lots of good play in that opening 45 minutes.

“Even when we changed our shape when we went a little bit more direct, we were in the ascendency.

"Unfortunately, we were nowhere near the levels we can get to.

“Our eye for goal needed to be better...and we didn’t defend well enough for both goals.

“We knew Crusaders have three or four really talented players in the attacking third that could cause us problems.

"But we’ve got to be a hell of a lot better than we were.

“In saying that, it didn’t help when we lost our captain Marcus Kane early in the game and then Ross Clarke had to come off at half-time.”

GLENTORAN: Crellin, Rooney, Kane (Larmour, 30), Kelly, Clarke (Jenkins, 46), McEneff, Daniels (Thomson, 63), Brown, Gallagher (Weatherup, 80), Singleton, Douglas.

Subs (not used): Mills, Sule, Faloona.

CRUSADERS: Callister, Forsythe, Kelly, Blaney, Weir, Jewitt-White (Rocks, 67), Brooks (Reid, 78), Dunlop (Rough, 71), Doherty (Doherty, 67), Wardell, McKay.

Subs (not used): Brown, McKechnie, Maguire.

Referee: Tim Marshall.