STEEL CUP: Carrick Rangers 0 Crusaders Res 1

Dempster’s 54th-minute goal proved to be the difference between the two sides in what was a frustrating night for the Gers.

It was a distinctly below-par display from Michael Hughes’ men. They lacked imagination in the final third, showed little attacking threat in wide areas and, on another day, could have been more heavily punished for some sloppy defending.

Crusaders had the first chance of the game eight minutes in when Nicky Hudson’s shot, from a David McMaster corner, was tipped on to the bar by Linfield loanee Gareth Deane.

A mistake from Thomas Wray then allowed Ryan Burns a free run at the Crues’ defence, but he hestitated when he should have shot, and ultimately lost possession.

At the other end, Deane was called into action again when Dempster let fly from distance.

Damien Curran fired wide for the Gers before the industrious Aaron Harmon’s stinging effort had Yohann Lacroix at full stretch.

Minutes before the break Carrick Gary Haveron forced the French stopper into a finger-tip save with a strong header from Harmon’s searching cross.

The Crues came out with renewed vigour after the interval and Kyle Dillon almost broke the deadlock on 48 minutes but his clean right-footed shot came back off the upright.

Adam Dick almost had Carrick on level terms in the 53rd minute but he pulled his strike across the face of the goal.

Within seconds of Dick’s chance, the Crues found themselves in the lead. Centre-back Glenn Taggart failed to deal with a long ball and it dropped to Dempster who made no mistake with a crisp finish to Deane’s right.

Aaron Smyth came close for Carrick soon after but his whipped right-footed effort dipped over the bar.

Crusaders’ backline, marshalled by the experienced Paul Leeman, kept Carrick at bay with the visitors content to play counter-attacking football in the latter stages of the match.

Five minutes from time left-back Aiden O’Kane headed Curran’s free-kick wide and a minute later Josh Cash was presented with Carrick’s best goalscoring opportunity of the night but he fired his close-range shot straight at Lacroix.

Carrick Rangers: Deane, McCloskey (Cash 45), O’Kane, Haveron (c), Taggart, West, Smyth, Harmon, Burns (McConnell 61), Dick (J. Murray 78), Curran. Subs not used: Kelly, O’Rourke.

Crusaders Res: Lacroix, Wray, Nixon, Wasson, Leeman, Mallon (L. Williamson 84), Hudson, Dillon (O’Hanlon 63), Dempster (Spiers 90), Watson, McMaster. Subs not used: J. Williamson (GK).

Referee: Steven Taylor (Belfast).