AUGUST saw the 2025/26 Premiership get up and running as the Bannsiders faced Larne, Cliftonville, Dungannon Swifts and Glenavon…
Coleraine were in ruthless form in their final pre-season outing as they hit nine goals without reply against Portstewart in the annual Wes Gregg Memorial Match. A hat-trick from Matthew Shevlin, a brace from Joel Cooper and efforts from Jamie McGonigle, Dean Jarvis and Jamie Glackin had the Bannsiders 8-0 ahead at half-time. The scoring was completed after the restart when Cooper completed a treble of his own.
Due to an injury sustained to Ryan Schofield in Fleetwood, the Bannsiders had to bring in reinforcements with goalkeepers Harry Evans (Derby County) and Aidan Harris (Newcastle United) joining on loan.
The Bannsiders started their campaign with the visit of Larne to the Ballycastle Road. Both teams traded chances infront of a large crowd on the Ballycastle Road as Dan Bent was denied by Aidan Harris, whilst at the other end, Matthew Shevlin could only watch on as his strike came back off the post. However, heading into the final 30 minutes of the contest it was all one-way traffic as Coleraine searched for the winner with Will Patching, Charles Dunne and Joel Cooper all denied. But the pressure finally paid off on 86 minutes when Cooper was superbly found by substitute Declan McManus and he smashed the ball into the back of the net to bag all three points.
Joel Cooper made it a debut to remember with his winner against Larne.
Tiernan Brolly produced some memorable outings during pre-season action and he signed forms on his professional deal, with goalkeeper Max Little then moving on via mutual consent.
The second league outing for Ruaidhri Higgins’ side was a trip to Solitude to face Cliftonville. The best opportunity of the first-half was created by Coleraine down their right-hand side on 26 minutes. An inch-perfect pass by Joel Cooper released Lewis McGregor and the Scottish winger picked out Jamie Glackin who rippled the side netting. Into the second half, Cliftonville will feel they should have taken the lead on 71 minutes as Eric McWoods launched a lightning counter attack. The striker ran down the right flank and centred the ball for Ryan Curran who couldn’t find the target as both teams played out a scoreless draw.
Next up was a midweek assignment against Irish Cup holders Dungannon Swifts at The Showgrounds. Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins was absent from the dugout via a small medical procedure, meaning his deputies Kevin Deery, Conor Loughrey, Gerard Boyle and Michael Dougherty took charge. They were celebrating as Coleraine took the lead on 26 minutes when when Will Patching and Joel Cooper combined from a quickly taken corner to cross the ball for Declan McManus to nod home. Less than ten minutes later, Coleraine doubled that lead in emphatic fashion. A cross into the box was flicked goalwards by Kodi Lyons-Foster and Jamie Glackin did the rest by finding the back of the net via an overhead kick. Chances were created after the break but the Stripes held firm for a 2-0 success and all three points.
Jamie Glackin wheels away in delight after netting an overhead kick against Dungannon Swifts.
The final contest of August saw Coleraine lock horns against Glenavon at Mourneview Park in what proved to be a hard-fought encounter. The Bannsiders lost Charles Dunne to injury inside the opening half an hour but his replacement Adam Long gave the visitors the lead when a fine team move involving Jamie McGonigle, Declan McManus and Dylan Boyle resulted in Lewis McGregor’s cross finding the towering central defender who prodded home from close range. The lead was cancelled out when Glenavon drew level just after the hour mark as Paul McGovern was on hand to rifle home the equaliser. In a frantic second half, the hosts were then reduced to ten men when Francely Lomboto was dismissed by referee Mark Dillon following an off-the-ball incident involving Lyndon Kane. However, the action didn’t stop there as Coleraine bagged all three points on 90 minutes when Kane’s cross was on the money for Matthew Shevlin to head home his first goal of the season.
The month ended with Sam McClintock agreeing to re-join Limavady United on loan, whilst talented teenagers Cead McGrath and Alex Watson signed for the club from Derry City and Linfield respectively.
Cead McGrath (left) and Alex Watson joined the club at the end of the transfer window.