Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders (FT)
Keiran Offord opens the scoring for the Crues midway through the first half
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders (HT)
Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran and Crusaders defender on BBC iPlayer
It was a collection of errors from Glentoran and Kieran Offord never gave up, and from the goal Crusaders grew into game and looked far more dangerous.
We're waiting to see more from Glentoran. They haven't done enough as a attacking threat so far in this game.
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
We reach the break at The Oval with the visitors a goal to the good thanks to Kieran Offord's first Irish League goal. It was gifted to the St. Mirren loanee by some dubious defending from the Glens who have certainly been well in this.
An exciting second half to come.
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
Kieran Offord and Jordan Stewart combine again with the former laying it off to the latter in the box but Daniel Gyollai saves. Approaching half-time here in East Belfast.
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
Philip Lowry to the rescue! He clears Wassim Aouachria's header off the line from another Niall McGinn corner.
It's fair to say the "feeling each other out" phase of this game is over.
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
This game is livening up as it's Glentoran's turn to look nervy at a corner. However, Daniel Larmour and Jordan Forsythe leave it to one and other and neither shoot in the end.
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
Harry Murphy almost redeems himself as Crusaders can't clear a miss-hit Niall McGinn corner but the defender puts it over the bar.
Meanwhile, David Fisher picks up a booking for the hosts for a foul on Lewis Barr.
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
Already some groans of frustration and cries of "forward!" emanating from the Main Stand here. It's going to be a long season if that attitude persists!
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
The opening goal of the 24/24 Irish Premiership season.
Here it is in all it's glory - scored by Crusaders' Keiran Offord.
Watch: Kieran Offord scores for Crusaders to make it 1-0
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
The captain's collide as Phillip Lowry catches James Singleton with a strong tackle but Ian McNabb sees nothing wrong with it and waves play on.
Glentoran 0-1 Crusaders
A good response from the Glens as Wassim Aouachria almost catches out Jonathan Tuffey at the near post and from the resulting corner, Frankie Hvid heads wide.
Kieran Offord - 21mins
What an absolute disaster at the back for Glentoran! Offord is busy and charges down Daniel Gyollai's attempted clearance. The ball takes a wicked spin off the turf and Harry Murphy may have been confused by that as he lets the ball run and Offord slides it into the empty net.
A comical goal... unless you are a Glentoran fan!
Glentoran 0-0 Crusaders
The first booking of the 24/25 season goes the way of Jordan Forsythe for a high challenge on Niall McGinn.
The combative Crues midfielder was probably fairly high on many people's list to be booked first and Ian McNabb brandishes the caution.
Glentiran 0-0 Crusaders
Phillip Lowry almost sets himself up with a beautiful bit of skill but Frankie Hvid recovers well and forces him out before the Crues captain can get a shot away.
Glentoran 0-0 Crusaders
Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran and Crusaders defender on BBC iPlayer
Jordan Stewart is the man who could be influential for the Crues this season with Ben Kennedy having departed for Ballymena.
He has that bit of magic. He's been frustrated with injuries so he'll be hoping to stay fit and on his day, he's a match winner.
Glentoran 0-0 Crusaders
Jordan Stewart is looking dangerous and his ball looking for Kieran Offord is well ready by Daniel Gyollai to intercept.
Meanwhile David Fisher's snap shot is well parried away by Jonathan Tuffey as we approach the quarter hour mark.
Glentoran 0-0 Crusaders
Both managers are on the edge of their technical area barking instructions and the drum in the Main Stand at the Oval continues to set the tempo for this beautiful Friday night in East Belfast.
Glentoran 0-0 Crusaders
Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran and Crusaders defender on BBC iPlayer
Kieran Offord looks like he's got a bit of pace up front for the Crues.
The Glentoran defence will have to watch him playing off the last man.
Glentoran 0-0 Crusaders
The hosts have started well in front of a raucous Oval crowd with new signings Frankie Hvid and Wassim Aouachria almost linking up.
It's now a corner to the Glens after Jarlath O'Rourke's overhit back pass drifts wide.
Glentoran 0-0 Crusaders
After a minute's silence for former Irish League referee Peter McGrath, Ian McNabb gets us underway with Crusaders attacking the end that houses their fans at the City end.
Glentoran v Crusaders (19:45 BST)
Tonight's game is the first of 11live Irish Premiership matches we have for you over the next eight weeks.
Friday 9 August: Glentoran v Crusaders
Sunday 11 August: Cliftonville v Portadown (15:00)
Friday 16 August: Coleraine v Ballymena
Sunday 18 August: Crusaders v Larne (14:00)
Tuesday 20 August: Glenavon v Linfield
Friday 23 August: Carrick v Glentoran
Friday 30 August: Coleraine v Larne
Tuesday 17 September: Cliftonville v Linfield
Friday 20 September: Larne v Glentoran
Friday 27 September: Cliftonville v Larne
Friday 4 October: Linfield v Glentoran
All fixtures 19:45 KO unless stated
Kieran Offord's rather bizarre goal earned Crusaders victory over Glentoran as the Irish Premiership season got under way at The Oval
The Declan Caddell era at Crusaders officially got underway with a 1-0 victory over Glentoran in the Irish Premiership season opener at The Oval.
Kieran Offord's first-half goal was enough in a game high on effort but low on quality.
A defensive mix-up from Glentoran gifted the St Mirren loanee a debut goal as he took advantage to score the first goal of the Caddell reign and the new season.
Glentoran had plenty of the ball but clear-cut chances were hard to come by as Declan Devine's men were left frustrated.
Watch: Crues off to winning start on a night to forget for the Glens
The game started off without much of a bang as both sides were feeling their way into the new season.
There were clearly some nerves at the back for Glentoran with a new goalkeeper and centre-half partnership and, on 22 minutes, Crusaders took advantage.
Goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai wanted too much time on the ball which Offord did not afford him.
The Crusaders debutant charged down an attempted clearance and pounced to slide into the empty net when the spin on the ball evaded Harry Murphy in rather comical circumstances.
You couldn't say that Crusaders were dominating but the hosts were struggling to threaten.
Their best chance of the first half came just before the break when Philip Lowry cleared Wassim Aouachria's header off the line.
The second half was a largely disjointed affair as Glentoran's shaky defence almost came back to bite them again.
Just before the hour mark, Harry Franklin robbed Frankie Hvid but was well denied one-on-one by Gyollai.
Declan Devine rolled the dice shortly after and introduced last year's Championship Player of the Year Jordan Jenkins and he almost nicked an equaliser but was denied well by a Robbie Weir block.
Glentoran kept on pushing with Charlie Lindsay and Paddy McClean both coming close as Crusaders retreated yet held on for the first three points of the season.