OK pleased with goal contributions

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney believes his side scored at important times of the match as they picked up all three points against Dungannon Swifts…

The Bannsiders made it back-to-back victories in the Danske Bank Premiership as goals from Stephen Lowry, Eoin Bradley, Matthew Shevlin, Jamie Glackin and Ronan Wilson sealed the emphatic win at Stangmore Park.

Despite admitting that the Swifts made a bright start to proceedings, Kearney remarked that netting goals either side of half-time had a massive sway on the outcome of the game.

“I thought the first 15 minutes they started brightly,” he said.

“Obviously with Dean coming in I knew there would be a change in their identity and how they went about it.

“We done a lot of homework and preparation on them but it’s not until you’re here in the flesh and feeling it, it took us a bit of time getting to grips with it.

“You can tell that they have worked on a huge amount of things and they’ll catch a lot of teams this year as they are massively improved this season already.

“I know it’s crazy to say that after a 5-0 result but it wasn’t a fair reflection of the game.

“The first thing I said to the players that it’s rare we score five but even last week, we got our three and we did enough to see the game out professionally.

“To be fair, after a difficult start, we had some good finishes and performances.

“We all know goals change games and Skinner’s one right on half-time changes the mindset from only being 1-0 ahead to 2-0.

“The third within a couple of minutes of the restart really kills the game as I’m sure they had a discussion at half-time about how to keep fighting and staying in the game.”

The Stripes had five different goalscorers in County Tyrone and Kearney highlighted the importance of all squad members chipping in with goals, as well as registering clean sheets.

“It is really important to get goals across the pitch,” he added.

“Yes, we want a 20 goal a season striker and the more the better, but it’s also a massive responsibility that people weigh in from all over the pitch.

“Stephen Lowry and Ronan Wilson have contributed from midfield, Skinner is back on the goal trail and Matthew continues his good form.

“Jamie Glackin is probably the most frustrating one as we are at him so much as he knows he should score more goals.

“When he takes the bull by the horns like that there is no stopping him.

“Clean sheets are also massively important.

“Gareth would have been like a bear going home if we conceded a consolation goal and it would have been the same last week if it happened at Carrick.

“When you get two or three goals, the big task is not letting anything in at the back door. It was sloppy to concede the penalty but it was a great read and stop by Gareth to keep the clean sheet.”

Next up for Coleraine is an away assignment in the second round of the BetMcLean League Cup away to Bangor and Kearney warned his players are solely focused on that fixture ahead of Saturday’s showdown against Linfield.

“There was no doom and gloom after the back-to-back defeats as we have a level headed bunch of players,”  he concluded.

“The response has been brilliant with the wins, goals and clean sheets, so we are pleased to be up and running.

“We have been away all summer and the start of the season, so we know what to expect going to Bangor.

“We will pick a team to go there that will hopefully get the job done.

“Linfield isn’t on my radar in terms of focus as we have a couple of aches and pains in there to manage for Tuesday night.”