2017-18 Season Review: Part Two

colerainefc.com continues to review last season’s action with Part Two concentrating on the Bannsiders’ results over the festive period…

November:

A mouth watering away trip kicked-off November as first placed Coleraine made the trip to Glenavon who were in third. A packed away end made for a fantastic atmosphere and they were in jubilant form on eight minutes as Jamie McGonigle seized on a ball inside the area and expertly finished by Jonny Tuffey. Things got even better on 15 minutes as Glenavon full-back James Singleton received his marching orders for a last man back tug on Ian Parkhill as the winger bore down on goal. These setbacks actually instilled some fight into the Lurgan Blues and they were level midway through the first-half as Mark Sykes found the bottom corner after a lung busting run from midfield. It was nip and tuck until the break, but Coleraine were celebrating eight minutes into the second-half as Josh Carson evaded the challenge of Sammy Clingan before arrowing a shot into the net. The Stripes looked like sealing another victory when Chris Johns was adjudged to have fouled Andy Hall inside the area and Clingan fired home from the spot as Coleraine had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Both sides would have to settle for a share of the spoils after a blockbuster match at Mourneview Park.

Once again due to Northern Ireland under-21 call-ups, Coleraine were forced to re-schedule their fixture against Ards. This meant an extra week’s rest before an away clash at Linfield. The opening 45 minutes were arguably the Bannsiders’ worst of the season as goals from Andy Waterworth and Mark Stafford saw Coleraine 2-0 down at the break. After a stern talk at half-time, Coleraine pulled a goal back via Darren McCauley but they failed to find an equaliser and suffered their first – and only – league defeat of the season.

Smith celebrates his first Coleraine goal as the Bannsiders overcame the disappointment of their defeat to Linfield.

Thankfully the Stripes only had three days to wait to return to winning ways as Ards were the visitors on the Ballycastle Road. Two first-half goals from Gareth McConaghie had Coleraine well on their way, before Josh Carson and Martin Smith – his first for the club – sealed a 4-1 win over Colin Nixon’s men. This success meant that the Bannsiders restored their five-point lead at the top of the table.

In-form Crusaders were next to make the trip to The Showgrounds in what was a very cagey affair on the North Coast. The game came to life in the second-half with the introduction of Brad Lyons from injury. His strong run and lay off found Jamie McGonigle and the striker’s daisy cutter seemed to take an age before nestling into the bottom corner. Oran Kearney’s side looked like being the first team to inflict an away defeat on the Crues, but the Hatchetmen found an equaliser 10 minutes from time as former Coleraine captain Howard Beverland headed home from a corner to ensure a 1-1 draw.

December:

Coleraine knew that if they were to claim a first Gibson Cup title since 1974 then they would have to pick up as many points as possible over the festive period and they started December in terrific form sealing four wins in a row. The first victory arrived at the home of Carrick Rangers and it was seen as a valuable three points as it’s a venue the Bannsiders have notoriously struggled at in the last few seasons. Things got off to a great start when Ciaron Harkin gave Coleraine the lead, but former defender Mark Edgar restored parity with an excellent free-kick. Just before the referee could blow for half-time, Brad Lyons popped up at the back post with a terrific header to regain the advantage. The three points were safe in the second-half when Jamie McGonigle pounced on some slack defending to earn a 3-1 success on a bitterly cold day at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena.

Prior to the home game against Dungannon Swifts, Coleraine supporters were given an early Christmas present with the signing of winger Stephen Dooley from Cork City. It would mark a fourth spell for the Portstewart man and his signature was a massive boost for the challenges ahead. On the field, Coleraine battled to a 1-0 win over Rodney McAree’s men as Darren McCauley’s sweet strike from distance was enough to separate the sides at The Showgrounds.

Coleraine announced the signing of winger Stephen Dooley on a deal until the end of the season.

Before Christmas, the Stripes would be on the road in successive weeks to Ballinamallard United and Warrenpoint Town as Oran Kearney’s men aimed to consolidate their position at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership. The first fixture at Ferney Park would prove to be a competitive affair as a first-half strike from Ian Parkhill, added to Brad Lyons’ clever finish after the break sealed a 2-0 win in County Fermanagh. The following week at Milltown was a case of deja-vu as Ian Parkhill made the breakthrough once again via the aid of a deflection, before Darren McCauley held off his marker to find the bottom corner and ease some nerves from the travelling support.

The annual Boxing Day derby was held at The Coleraine Showgrounds as rivals Ballymena United made their way down the A26 to the Ballycastle Road. After a quiet opening to the match, the

Frustration as Coleraine would have to settle for back-to-back draws against Ballymena and Cliftonville.

Bannsiders hit the front when Jamie McGonigle got behind the Sky Blues’ defence and struck home before the half-time whistle. However David Jeffrey’s men were aiming to throw a spanner in Coleraine’s title aspirations and duly got a share of the spoils as Kyle Owens’ header deflected off Aaron Traynor and went into the net as Coleraine lumbered to a draw. Despite being disappointed at not earning another three points, a major boost was the return of Eoin Bradley from an injury sustained in September.

The heavy load of games meant the Bannsiders were in action only four days later in a difficult assignment at Solitude against Cliftonville. Boss Oran Kearney was without numerous players via suspensions and injuries, but his patched-up side battled hard to earn a 0-0 draw in North Belfast. Things were made even tougher with the dismissal of Aaron Traynor for a last man back tackle late on, but lady luck was on Coleraine’s side as they somehow left with a point. Due to Crusaders’ imperious run of results, the Stripes’ lead at the top of the table was cut to two points as we entered 2018.

January:

After the New Year’s Day fixture against Linfield fell victim to the weather, the Bannsiders were next in action against Bluefin Sport Intermediate side Lisburn Distillery in the fifth round of the Tennent’s Irish Cup as they aimed to go one better than last season’s defeat in the final. Boss Oran Kearney drafted Stephen Dooley straight into the starting eleven and they were 3-0 ahead at the break via Gareth McConaghie, a debut goal for Dooley and Jamie McGonigle. Further gloss was added to the scoreline in the second-half through Martin Smith and Ian Parkhill, with substitute Matthew Kirk showing the future is bright at The Showgrounds with a clinical brace of his own.

Scenes as Bradley nets a late winner against Dungannon.

A real test lay ahead in the Danske Bank Premiership as the Bannsiders were on their travels to Stangmore Park to entertain Dungannon Swifts. It would prove to be a tight affair like the previous fixture between the two sides in December. As the game looked destined to end in a stalemate, Eoin Bradley was introduced off the bench to the desired effect as he lobbed the ball over Andy Coleman for a precious three points. The win could have been wrapped up with minutes to go but Darren McCauley was denied from the spot as Coleraine held firm.

It would be a meeting of the top-two next as Coleraine and Crusaders locked horns in a match of the season contender at The Showgrounds. The Bannsiders looked dead and buried at half-time as a deadly brace from winger Gavin Whyte had the Crues in the ascendancy. However after Coleraine grabbed an early goal via Jamie McGonigle after the restart, they would quickly find themselves two goals behind once more as Paul Heatley fired past Chris Johns. The game and momentum would change in the Bannsiders’ favour as Colin Coates was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Unsurprisingly, the home side would throw everything at the Hatchetmen and they received a lifeline when Jamie McGonigle scored from an unstoppable 25-yard drive. It only seemed like a matter of time for the equaliser to arrive and it duly did with 15 minutes to go as Darren McCauley swept home. The Stripes had a late chance cleared off the line but a draw was a fair result in what was a great advert for Irish League football.

Before a ball was kicked in the league fixture against Glentoran there was a massive return to the starting eleven as Lyndon Kane made his first appearance of the season after suffering a broken metatarsal in a pre-season fixture. On the pitch the Stripes made a fantastic start as Eoin Bradley chipped the ball over Elliot Morris to give the Bannsiders the lead inside the first minute. In what was an uneventful game of football, the win was secured 10 minutes from time as Ciaron Harkin kept his cool from the spot to register a 2-0 win. Coleraine boss Oran Kearney would make his second swoop of the January transfer window by acquiring the signature of attacker Aaron Burns from Linfield. It looked like the Banbridge man would earn a move over the water at Crawley Town but once that deal broke down, he signed a two-and-a-half year deal at The Showgrounds.

Aaron Burns was the second arrival of the January transfer window from Linfield.

The Linfield fixture was re-arranged for the end of January and it was definitely a chance missed for the home side. The Stripes were ahead at the break as Jamie McGonigle struck low into the corner past a helpless Gareth Deane, before Ian Parkhill’s 78th minute strike doubled Coleraine’s lead. Just when it looked like the Bannsiders would go back top of the league, Andy Waterworth got a goal back via a header from Niall Quinn’s cross. Incredibly minutes later, Stephen Lowry’s deep free-kick cannoned off the crossbar and in off the back of Gareth McConaghie to give Linfield an unlikely share of the spoils.