2020-21 Season Review: January

JANUARY would prove to be a great month for the Bannsiders as they secured maximum points from four Danske Bank Premiership fixtures…

After the Boxing Day and December 29 games were postponed, the Bannsiders returned to action on January 2 with a home clash against Carrick Rangers. The visitors were the better team in the first 45 minutes as Gareth Deane saved from Jonny Frazer’s clever flick, before the shot stopper was called into action to save a penalty from Caolan Loughran. The second-half response was instant with the home side looking more purposeful and dangerous, and they made the breakthrough after referee Ross Dunlop awarded his second penalty of the afternoon. This time Mark Surgenor was penalised for a high challenge on Bradley and Ben Doherty slotted his 54th minute penalty past Aaron Hogg for his tenth goal of the season. Unfortunately, Doherty’s joy was to turn to despair 20 minutes later, however, as he was stretchered off with a suspected shoulder injury. Coleraine would have Deane to thank yet again as Michael Smith was played in by Corey McMullan but his shot lacked power and then Deane got down well to turn Lloyd Anderson’s snap shot past the post. Man of the match Deane came to the rescue again on 85 minutes as he thwarted Fraser with another fingertip save. Those stops would prove vital sixty seconds later as Jamie Glackin was the provider with a perfect cross and former Taylor’s Avenue player Nixon planted a header beyond Hogg. Fellow sub Bradley rubbed further salt into Carrick’s wounds when he claimed the Bannsiders’ third in injury time, tapping home from close range.

Due to the NIFL COVID-19 policy, the Bannsiders’ fixtures against Ballymena United and Linfield were both postponed meaning their next game was on January 23 at home to Dungannon Swifts. After the pitch survived a morning inspection, Coleraine’s new found confidence was evident from the start and they needed just eight minutes to take the lead. Man of the match Eoin Bradley did well to hold the ball up before passing to Jamie Glackin and his cross was headed home by the unmarked Aaron Jarvis. The visitors, with a change in shape at the interval, looked livelier in the second half and Ben Gallagher headed a Rhys Campbell cross narrowly off target on 61 minutes. However, Bradley would then produced a goal worthy of winning any game as he unleashed a stunning right foot drive home from outside the box after 77 minutes after a flick on by debutant Shevlin who impressed after coming off the bench. The aforementioned Shevlin would go close five minutes from time but his shot rolled inches past the far post and he almost made it a debut to remember when he connected with Bradley’s injury time cross but his header rebounded off the crossbar.

Coleraine knew that they would have to be at their best if they were to make it five successive wins in the Danske Bank Premiership as they faced Larne at Inver Park. Oran Kearney’s men began at a high tempo and hit the front after just six minutes. Ronan Hale bundled over Lyndon Kane inside the box and Lowry smashed home the resultant penalty. And within five minutes Coleraine were further ahead. The high pressing game paid dividends as Stewart Nixon robbed Albert Watson to free McLaughlin who calmly slotted the ball between the legs of Conor Devlin. As expected, Larne forced Coleraine onto the backfoot for most of the second period, with the introduction of Johnny McMurray causing problems. The big striker brought a save out of Deane on 73 minutes and sixty seconds later it was very much game on as Watson rose to power home a header. McMurray then hooked an effort from John Herron’s flick-on against the crossbar as the visitors dug deep to hold out for three valuable points.

The month would conclude with the Stripes hosting Crusaders at The Showgrounds. They visitors were on top during the early exchanges and edged ahead with an opportunistic goal from former player Jamie McGonigle after 17 minutes. There appeared little danger when the ball arrived at the feet of Gareth Deane, but the ‘keeper’s clearance crashed off Adam Lecky and fell to McGonigle who still had a lot to do but he expertly steered the ball home from outside the box. On 31 minutes, the Bannsiders were level with Curtis Allen’s first league goal of the season. Lyndon Kane collected Aaron Traynor’s cross and his ball was turned home from close range by the striker. Crusaders went close to restoring their lead before the hour mark when McGonigle collected Declan Caddell’s cross but his well struck shot went narrowly past the far post. At the other end, Traynor sent in a teasing cross but it was just out of the reach of both Bradley and Allen. But it was Coleraine who clinched victory and maintained their winning run with a dramatic late winner. Jamie Glackin floated over a great free kick sixty seconds from time and substitute Stephen Lowry rose to head home.