2017-18 Season Review: Part One

AS the Bannsiders get ready to kick start their pre-season fixtures, colerainefc.com takes a look at last season’s highlights starting from our European exploits right through to the month of October…

European Football & Charity Shield:

Coleraine returned to European football for the first time since 2004 when they were drawn against Norwegian outfit FK Haugesund. The Bannsiders were dealt a double blow before a ball was kicked as goalkeeper Chris Johns was unable to travel as he had exams, as well as Lyndon Kane who suffered a broken metatarsal against Derry City in a pre-season friendly. Oran Kearney’s men knew they would be massive underdogs against their Scandinavian opponents and it would prove that way as they were defeated 7-0 in Norway. However the Stripes would restore some pride in the second leg at The Showgrounds by playing out a goalless draw on the Ballycastle Road, but in reality, it is a fixture they should have won as Eoin Bradley and Jamie McGonigle all had opportunities to win the match. The 7-0 aggregate score was probably a little bit harsh on the Bannsiders, but the return to Europe and the financial benefit of playing in the Europa League meant it was a great experience for the club on a whole.

Due to Crusaders’ withdrawal to feature in the Charity Shield final, Coleraine were asked to play Linfield at The Oval in the annual curtain raiser for the upcoming Danske Bank Premiership campaign. It was the Bannsiders who started the brighter and they took the lead when summer recruit Josh Carson fired home against his former club. That lead would only last five minutes as Aaron Burns would drag the Blues level at the break. David Healy’s side had the better of the second-half and took a deserving lead through Andy Mitchell’s volley, before Paul Smyth lobbed home the third as Linfield picked up the first piece of silverware.

August:

The Bannsiders were given a tricky start to the new Danske Bank Premiership campaign as they made the trip to Stangmore Park to face Dungannon Swifts. Rodney McAree’s side have always proven to be tough opposition to beat and the Stripes suffered a 4-0 loss at the venue in the 2016-17 season. After a goalless first-half, Coleraine suffered a blow when defender Steven Douglas was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Instead of playing for a point, the visitors seized the initiative and took the lead via Ciaron Harkin’s curling effort, before Stephen O’Donnell doubled the advantage with a close range header. It seemed to be all plain sailing until Ryan Mayse reduced the arrears to a single goal, but Ian Parkhill’s volley after Swifts’ keeper Andy Coleman was sent-off earned the Stripes a precious opening day three points.

Three days later, Coleraine welcomed Cliftonville to The Showgrounds for the first home game of the season. Like the previous fixture against Dungannon, both teams would find themselves level at the break. However the deadlock was broken five minutes after the restart as Josh Carson powered home after a neat passage of play, before Jamie McGonigle found the bottom left-hand corner to register a 2-0 win.

The tough fixtures would keep on coming as Oran Kearney’s side made the journey to North Belfast to face Crusaders in the hope of making it three wins in a row. The signs were looking good when Eoin Bradley out-muscled Howard Beverland to head home after 20 minutes. The Bannsiders were chasing a valuable second goal and it duly arrived on the stroke of half-time as summer signing Stephen O’Donnell nodded home from a corner. Unsurprisingly, the home side chased their way back into the match and were given a lifeline when Coleraine defender David Ogilby was dismissed for a second yellow card. Jordan Forsythe would tap in from close range to grab a consolation goal for Stephen Baxter’s troops, but the Stripes held on for a deserved win which was Oran Kearney’s first win at Seaview as Coleraine boss.

The final league game of the month saw Warrenpoint Town make the trip to the Ballycastle Road as the promoted side aimed to become the first team to take points off the Bannsiders. If there were any pre-match doubts or nerves, they were soon relaxed as Jamie McGonigle pounced to give the home side the lead on 16 minutes. To their credit, ‘Point began to get a foothold into the game and found an equaliser when Darren Murray instinctively found the bottom corner with a terrific volley to send the sides level at the break. However Matthew Tipton’s men would finish the game with 10 men as Murray would then receive his marching orders for two yellow cards. After wave after wave of attacks, the Stripes seemed destined to settle for a share of the spoils until Darren McCauley stroked home at the back post for another valuable three points.

A League Cup tie with Larne would end a busy opening month for Oran Kearney’s players but they ensured their name would be in the hat for the next round after a professional performance against their Championship opposition. A first-half brace from Joe McCready had the Stripes well on their way, before Darren McCauley added a fourth to set-up a meeting with Crusaders in the next round.

September:

The Bannsiders would start September with a difficult home clash against high-flying Glenavon at a sun-drenched Showgrounds. After a tight opening 10 minutes, the deadlock was broken as Rhys Marshall was adjudged to have brought down Brad Lyons inside the penalty area. The in-form Darren McCauley stepped-up and confidently dispatched a ‘Panenka’ spot-kick past a helpless Jonny Tuffey. The visitors were justifiably level ten minutes later when Andy Hall crossed to the far post where his opposite winger Adam Foley headed beyond the reach of Chris Johns. It would be raining goals moments later as Josh Carson fired Coleraine back in front, before McCauley found the top corner with an unstoppable effort. Free scoring Glenavon grabbed a goal back via Andrew Mitchell but the Stripes would grab a fourth as Ciaron Harkin arrowed home with a delightful effort outside the area. It marked five straight wins for the Bannsiders who moved top of the table.

The league leaders would be on their travels the following weekend as they faced Ards at the Bangor Fuels Arena. In a bitty first-half that lacked any creativity, both teams were only threatening from set-pieces as Jamie McGonigle was introduced at the start of the second-half. After the striker had a shot parried by Aaron Hogg, the alert Josh Carson stroked home the opener and McCauley once again found the scoresheet two minutes later with a delightful volley. The three points were in the bag on 75 minutes as McGonigle was brought down inside the area and McCauley made no mistake from the spot.

Oran Kearney’s men would made it a brace of 3-0 wins as Carrick Rangers were the opponents at The Showgrounds. After a tight and competitive opening, the home side took the lead after half an hour when David Ogilby turned and fired home a delightful volley. After the break, the Stripes were in impressive form and McCauley added another brace of goals to take his tally to eight in his last five matches. The victory was Coleraine’s seventh in a row and left them three points clear of Linfield at the top of the pile.

The North-West Cup semi-final was the next hurdle for an under-strength Coleraine side that featured the returning Gareth McConaghie and David Kee from injury. Moyola Park looked certain to reach the final after taking a 2-0 lead but an inspired comeback sent the match into extra-time. The first goal arrived from the boot of Ben Wilson (which means he is the youngest player to ever score for the club) and a rocket from Matthew Kirk meant another 30 minutes of football would be played. As the game looked destined for penalties, veteran defender Steven Douglas pounced to earn a 3-2 win.

Coleraine would return to league duty against Glentoran who made a strong start to the season. However things got off to a bad start for the Bannsiders as midfielder Josh Carson was sent-off for a two footed tackle inside the opening 15 minutes. In truth, Oran Kearney’s men looked comfortable throughout and nearly stole all three points as Ciaron Harkin’s effort clipped the post, before Eoin Bradley had an effort off the line. As the match looked certain to end a draw, the Glens were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time as Curtis Allen went to ground under the challenge of David Ogilby. Up-stepped John McGuigan but the midfielder slipped and sent the penalty over the bar. It was the Stripes’ first dropped points off the season but they ensured they remained unbeaten after eight league games.

The calendar month ended with another away fixture at derby rivals Ballymena United. The visitors were without Lyndon Kane and James McLaughlin through injury, whilst midfielder Josh Carson missed out through suspension. After several chances were wasted, Coleraine finally went in front as Darren McCauley’s deep free-kick was met by the head of Stephen O’Donnell who powered home. The three points were sealed after the break when a trademark close range finish from Jamie McGonigle left Ross Glendinning with no chance. The Irish Cup runners-up would receive a blow after the match with the news that Eoin Bradley had suffered a knee ligament injury.

The Bannsiders ended the opening two months with 25 points out of a possible 27 and boss Oran Kearney was named the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Manager of the Month for both August and September.

October:

Coleraine had been scheduled to start October with a home clash against Ballinamallard United but Northern Ireland under-21 call-ups for Jamie McGonigle and Ciaron Harkin meant the game would have to be postponed. Therefore the first game was against Linfield in front of a bumper crowd at The Showgrounds as first hosted second. In a frantic first-half, Coleraine threatened through Jamie McGonigle, with Chris Johns alert at the other end to deny Niall Quinn’s free-kick. The deadlock was broken ten minutes after the restart, Ciaron Harkin with an inch perfect free kick delivery into the box and Brad Lyons powered home the header. That lead lasted all of nine minutes as Linfield scored almost an identical equaliser from a corner, Kirk Millar with an excellent delivery that Mark Haughey ran onto at pace to divert the bullet header past Johns. There would be a long stoppage as Brad Lyons was stretchered off the pitch with facial injuries. However there would be a last gasp controversial winner as Joe McCready released Jamie McGonigle and the striker’s shot went under the body of Roy Carroll and despite Josh Robinson clearing the ball, referee Arnold Hunter adjudged that the ball had crossed the line to extend Coleraine’s lead at the top of the table to five points.

The next fixture for Coleraine saw the Bannsiders make the trip to Seaview for the third round of the League Cup against Crusaders. It was the Stripes who made the perfect start as Gareth McConaghie powered home after 10 minutes to give Coleraine the lead at the break. However poor defending by the visitors was punished as Jordan Forsythe’s brace had Crusaders 2-1 in front. That lead barely lasted long as Jamie McGonigle received the ball on the by-line, cut inside and found the bottom corner after a lung busting run to level the scores. There would be late heartache for the visitors as a sliced clearance from Aaron Traynor found its way to Declan Caddell and he made no mistake to clinch a 3-2 win for Stephen Baxter’s men.

Prior to the league fixture against Cliftonville, boss Oran Kearney swooped to replace the void left by the injured Brad Lyons after acquiring the services of former Kilmarnock midfielder Martin Smith on a short-term deal. At a cold Solitude, the Stripes took the lead in spectacular fashion as David Ogilby fired home a sweet free-kick, but were pegged back as Rory Donnelly found the back of the net with a finish from a tight angle. At the start of the second-half, Coleraine went back in front as Joe McCready swept home from close range to the delight of the travelling support. From then on it was one way traffic as Chris Johns was alert to deny Jay Donnelly on two occasions – one save with his face – as Coleraine held on for a precious three points.

After losing out on the North-West Cup to Institute, Coleraine were seeking home comforts against Glentoran who remained the only side to have taken points off the Bannsiders so far. The Bannsiders started on fire and took the lead on four minutes as Ian Parkhill remained cool to round Elliot Morris and tap into an empty net. The lead was doubled moments later as Darren McCauley headed home from close range as Glentoran had no answer for Coleraine’s strong attacking play. The third and last goal was saved for the best as a quick counter attack involving Josh Carson and Darren McCauley resulted in Jamie McGonigle firing into the net as Coleraine remained 12 games unbeaten.

The re-arranged game against Ballinamallard ended the month of October and Coleraine knew a win would send them eight points clear in the Danske Bank Premiership. Many believed it was only a matter of Coleraine turning up as the Fermanagh outfit struggled for any early season form. As such, it took until the 50th minute for the breakthrough to arrive as a wicked delivery resulted in Colm McLoughlin scoring an unlucky own goal, before Joe McCready fired home a quick fire second. The Mallards ensured Coleraine would fight for the win as Matty Smyth headed in from a corner on 71 minutes, but the Bannsiders rearguard held firm to earn another three points at The Showgrounds.

October would prove to be as successful off the pitch as it was on it as Ciaron Harkin, Adam Mullan, Ian Parkhill and Chris Johns all agreed contract extensions.

Unsurprisingly, Oran Kearney would secure a hat-trick of Manager of the Month awards, becoming only the third man to achieve such a feat.