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Crusaders moved up to third in the Premiership table and stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games as they defeated bottom club Ards at Seaview.

A Chris Morrow penalty put the Crues ahead on six minutes and Timmy Adamson hit their second two minutes later.

Paul Heatley scored the third Crusaders goal on 38 minutes and while Craig McMillen replied for Ards on 57, Gary McCutcheon made it 4-1 on 86.

With time almost up, Ross Arthurs notched an injury-time Ards goal.

The win moves Crusaders level on points with second-placed Portadown.

Morrow's penalty and Adamson's goal put Crusaders in control by the eighth minute.

The spot-kick was awarded after Ards player Greg Hall had been adjudged to have handled.

Adamson doubled the Crues lead two minutes later after a nod-back by Jordan Owens.

The Crues went close to adding to their lead as Owens headed against the woodwork.

However, the game was over as a contest when Heatley ran through to score the third Crusaders goal after he had been played in by Declan Caddell.

Ards didn't have any chances in the first half but with the home team's level of performance dropping in the second period, McMillen pulled back a goal on 57 after connecting with a Andy Mitchell cross.

The win puts Crusaders level on points with second-placed Portadown although the Shamrock Park outfit, who have a game in hand, possess a superior goal difference.

The defeat keeps Ards rooted to the bottom of the table.