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Timmy Adamson scored four as Crusaders crushed Carrick at Seaview to reach the League Cup semi-finals.

All four first-half goals were headers, Michael Halliday getting the first before Adamson netted three.

Colin Coates scored with a 57th-minute penalty after Matt Hazley had been brought down by Andrew Smith.

The last two goals were also headers - scored by Halliday and Adamson - with Stephen McBride delivering the cross on both occasions.

So Crusaders, runners-up in the competition four seasons ago, ease into the last four, joining Ballymena United, Cliftonville and Coleraine.

They seemed to have the game wrapped up by the 16th minute by storming into a 3-0 lead.

All the goals came from Matt Hazley corners with former Glentoran star Halliday scoring in the third minute, Adamson diving to make it 2-0 in the 13th and the same player getting number three.

Adamson completed his first-half hat-trick to make it 4-0 in 37 minutes from a Stuart Dallas cross.

The Crues piled on the agony with the Coates penalty, Halliday's header on the hour and Adamson's looping effort 18 minutes from time.