Irish Premiership: Blues win to move 15 points clear as Oval game abandoned
The Crusaders ended a three-game losing streak with a hard-earned win at Coleraine, their third league win over Benedd this season.
Blaney gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour mark and second-half substitute Harry Jewett-White sealed victory with a breakthrough goal in stoppage time.
The home side missed a series of chances early in the game before the Crusaders broke the deadlock.
Rhyss Campbell fired wide from a good position, Connor Murray was denied by a fine save from Jonathan Tuffey, and Matthew Shevlin was in contention with The Crusaders goalkeeper failed to succeed in a one-on-one situation.
The visitors paid for their profligacy when they scored on their only chance of the half.
Ross Clarke hit the free-kick against the back post and Blaney broke through the home defense to nod in for substitute goalkeeper Max Little, replacing the injured Rory Brown. , the latter was injured in an early confrontation with Harry Franklin.
A similar pattern followed the restart, with Murray’s curling shot hitting the crossbar and Johnny Taaffe diving low to save Dean Jarvis.
Second-half substitute Corey Smith was denied by a fingertip save from the impressive Tafe before his right-footed shot hit the post and the goalkeeper was beaten.
Josh O’Connor sealed the points in stoppage time when he broke through from the left wing and then met Jewitt-White, an unmarked second-half substitute.
