THIS Irish Cup rehearsal had an unfamiliar look as both sides fielded a number of fringe players to ultimately share the spoils.

Daryl Fordyce might have handed Linfield the lead on 11 minutes when he headed against the crossbar from a Robert Garrett cross.

Then, seven minutes later at the other end, Jordan Owens headed goal bound from an Aaron Harris corner only for Garrett to clear the danger off the line.

On 28 minutes a David Armstrong header from a Nathan Hanley corner was turned off the line by Paul Leeman while Fordyce's follow-up was also cleared.

Ross Clarke then fired wide with a right-foot effort five minutes later before Gary Browne squandered a shot in front of goal.

But it fell to the Crues to break the deadlock eight minutes into the second half after Owens was presented with an open goal following a Matthew Snoddy right wing cross.

Owens might have added a second two minutes later only for Stuart Addis to tip his powerful drive over.

Browne twice came close for the Blues. On 62 minutes he shot straight at Jack McCrea after a good build-up Fordyce and Neil Dougan while, eight minutes after that, he tested the young 'keeper with a 20-yard free-kick.

However, the Blues did level with three minutes left after Mark McAllister sent a ball behind the defence for Fordyce to slot home from ten yards.

Crusaders: McCrea, Gibson, Leeman, Wright, Gargan, Dillon, Snoddy, Harris, Robinson, Halliday, Owens subs King (not used), Mitchell (replaced Robinson 42), Herron (not used), Johnston (not used), McCready (not used)

Linfield: Addis, Douglas, Armstrong, B.J. Burns, Hanley, Fordyce, Browne, Garrett, Dougan, Casement, Clarke subs Glendinning (not used), Curran (replaced Douglas 10), Lowry (not used), A. Burns (replaced Clarke 59), McAllister (replaced Burns 67)

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• Ross Clarke and Paul Leeman in action (Picture: William Cherry/PressEye.com)