COLERAINE would suffer semi-final disappointment in the BetMcLean Cup but progress continued in the Irish Cup and Premiership throughout February…
The final four of the BetMcLean Cup saw Coleraine drawn away to Glentoran in a match that cruelly went in favour of the hosts. In an opening 45 minutes of very few opportunities, Glentoran struck with the last kick of the half. A set-piece delivery by Ryan Cooney found its way to Pat Hoban who had a simple task of tapping into the net. However, Coleraine responded in fine style as a sliding Joel Cooper managed to keep the ball in play, sweep past two markers and blaze his effort into the top corner to level the scores. The Bannsiders will feel they should have won the game in the regulation 90 minutes but failed to make chances count, with Glentoran reaching the final by landing the killer blow in extra-time through Jordan Jenkins’ finish.
The Bannsiders had to quickly lick their wound as they were paired with in-form Carrick Rangers in the sixth-round of the Irish Cup. In a tight battle, Coleraine broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when a tireless Ben Wylie charged down Benjamin Buchanan-Rolleston’s attempted clearance, burst through on goal and picked his spot with a composed finish. However, Coleraine failed to see the game out in the second half as Adam Lecky struck with eight minutes to go send the tie into extra-time. There would be no repeat of what happened four days earlier as Matthew Shevlin fired in a clinical hat-trick in the extra 30 minutes to send Ruaidhri Higgins’ men into the hat for the next round.
Matthew Shevlin celebrates his hat-trick against Carrick Rangers in the Irish Cup.
The busy schedule continued for the Bannsiders as they played host to Portadown in a dramatic night of action on the Ballycastle Road. To their credit, the visitors were in the ascendancy and deservedly led at the interval when Josh Ukek got on the end of Stephen McCullough’s cross and directed a crisp effort into Ryan Schofield’s far corner. Shooting into the Railway End in the second half, Coleraine were largely improved and they would have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be their day as Alex Moore was producing heroics in the Portadown goal. However, he was finally breached with 15 minutes to go when Joel Cooper picked up space and lashed home from outside the box. However, the drama wasn’t done there as Coleraine won the contest with the last action of the game. A wicked delivery by Will Patching was on the money for James Akintunde to stab home to cue bedlam with players, staff and fans inside The Showgrounds.
Coleraine then travelled to Carrick Rangers in back-to-back weekends – but this time it was Premiership commitments at Taylors Avenue. On a chilly day in east Antrim, Coleraine struck first on 25 minutes and in fine style as a dangerous corner kick delivery by Will Patching went directly into the back of the net via the post. Despite having large spells of possession and set-pieces, Coleraine were breached on the stroke of half-time when a header sent Mikey Place through on goal and he was able to dispatch under the body of Ryan Schofield. Both teams had opportunities after the restart to seal all three points but the game finished in a 1-1 draw.
Away from competitive action, the club were delighted to officially open a new community pitch based at The Showgrounds. The pitch, which was completed thanks to funding from the Irish FA and DCMS Grassroots Facility Investment Fund, was officially opened by Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood, with Henry Ross, Colin McKendry and Dale Pryde-MacDonald present on behalf of the club.
The new community pitch was officially opened at The Showgrounds.
The return of Oran Kearney to The Showgrounds as Ballymena United manager was the big talking point as the two clubs played out their third derby clash of the campaign. In front of a bumper crowd on the Ballycastle Road, the hosts made the breakthrough just before the half hour mark when a sweeping move resulted in Will Patching arrowing into the bottom corner. Coleraine had to survive two big chances after the break when Sean Murray and Igor Rutkowski failed to convert big chances for the Sky Blues as Ruaidhri Higgins’ men held on for the 1-0 victory.
Will Patching’s effort proved to be the difference as Coleraine edged out Ballymena United at The Showgrounds.
The final game of the month would ultimately prove to be one the Stripes would rather forget as a poor first-half showing done the damage at Dungannon Swifts. By the time clock reached 36 minutes in Co Tyrone, Coleraine found themselves 3-0 behind as Sean McAllister, Leo Alves and Danny Wallace put the hosts in a commanding lead. Unsurprisingly, changes were made at the break and the Bannsiders did manage to pull a goal back through James Akintunde’s header but that was as good as it got as the Swifts celebrated a 3-1 win.