Football: MARK PICKS HIS MOMENT; CRUSADERS 0 LINFIELD 2

A MOMENT of opportunism from Mark Picking helped secure an excellent away win for the champions.

As the home defence dithered, the tricky winger nipped in between Paul Kee and defender Alan Dornan to roll the ball into an empty net to kill the game off midway through the second half.

It could all have been so different for lowly Crusaders, who made a blistering start. They troubled the Blues twice in the first three minutes, but lacked the cutting edge when it mattered.

The first chance fell to striker Stuart McPherson, signed from Loughgall in midweek, but with the goal gaping he failed to connect with Steven McGuire's teasing cross.

Then a minute later, Peter Marks created space on the edge of the box and connected firmly with the ball, but goalkeeper Robert Robinson got down quickly to block his effort.

That was the wake-up call for Linfield. They began to settle down and finally took a grip on the game on 12 minutes.

Russell Kelly, who set the Blues on the way to victory last week, was on target again with a glancing header from Gavin Arthur's free kick.

Northern Ireland international striker Glenn Ferguson should have doubled the advantage midway through the half. He was spotted by Picking but after bursting through the middle he struck his left- foot shot wide of the post.

It was Picking who sealed it for Linfield, pouncing on Dornan and Kee's hesitation to notch his fourth goal of the season.

Linfield boss David Jeffery said: "I thought our back four were magnificent and our performance outstanding."

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