Bannsiders through to third round

COLERAINE U18’s took on near neighbours Ballymoney U18’s at the Riada Stadium, Ballymoney in the “Tie of the 2nd Round” of this season’s Harry Cavan Youth Cup…

Report & photos by Gary Hancock / IrishFA .COM

The game was played in bright sunshine and a light breeze.

9 minutes had passed on the referee’s watch when Coleraine struck through Caiolan Brennan’s well-struck lowshot from just inside the penalty area.

Both sides tested each other but Coleraine were on a mission and looked a stronger side.

On the 28th minute Coleraine were awarded a penalty and up stepped Brennan to take the spot kick only to see the ball go past the left hand post.

As the game settled it was obvious Coleraine had settled quicker and Ballymoney were struggling to get significant possession and on 34 minutes again Coleraine broke down the Ballymoney defence through Alexander Gawne’s toe poke past the keeper from 12 yards out.

Once again Coleraine pushed and this time it was Brennan on 38 minutes who found himself in acres of room in an undefended 18-yard box and he calmly placed a side foot shot past the rooted McNabb in the Ballymoney goal.

Much as Ballymoney tried to make a game out of it all the football was being played in the Ballymoney half.

On the half time whistle Brennan completed his “Man of the Match” performance with his hat trick through a close range tap in.

The second half started with Ballymoney on the front foot but they were leaving gaps at the back and Coleraine’s Caleb Wan exploited this when he placed a side footed shot that bobbled its way into the net to take the scoreline to 5-0.

On the hour mark Wan latched on to a corner kick and twisted and turned his way through a crowded 6 yard box to put his side 6-0 up.

From this point it was all one way traffic and on 72 minutes a side footed shot from 2 yards out from substitute Eoghan Devine stretched the score to 7-0.

Coleraine hadn’t finished yet and on 74 minutes again Ballymoney had a penalty awarded against them only this time up stepped Gawne who could only watch his penalty saved by McNabb.

Within a minute (77) Coleraine had stretched their lead to 8-0 thanks to another substitute Pierce Quigley who went on a unchallenged run and curled a vicious shot past the advancing keeper and watched as the ball found a resting place in the back of the net to take the scoreline to 8-0.

Ballymoney had no response and again left gaps at the back which Wan exploited and on 85 minutes the gap was stretched, to 9-0 when he tried to chip the keeper and saw his shot rebound off the underside of the crossbar and crept in over the line.

With the referee about to blow for full time Coleraine had one more in the tank when again it was Wan again who checked past the keeper and passed a shot into the unguarded net to give him his 4th goal and Coleraine U18’s 10th.

Coleraine U18’s progress to this seasons 3rd round draw of the Harry Cavan Youth Cup.

Final Score: Coleraine u18’s 10 – 0 Ballymoney u18’s