Beaten but experience gained

COLERAINE Women kicked-off the new season with the luxury of nine new players on show getting first taste of competitive football against a talented Ballymena side…

Half-time saw the Bannsiders going in a goal down after a really competitive opening 45 minutes that the fledging Coleraine team probably edged in chances created.

The second-half started in same vain but the more experienced Ballymena side – through a combination of good finishing and fortuitous rebounds – saw the game through to a deserved 4-0 win.

Gareth Scott commented that he felt that at the better team edged the game, although the performance and enthusiasm effort levels pointed out that the club are going in the right direction.

With having so many players learning the game and competing for first time, it will present a harsh upward curve in a good league against established squads. He felt Ballymena’s goalkeeper was a big difference maker and that is most honest reflection on how the game went.

It was great to see a good crowd, a competitive game and a great advert for the first steps of Coleraine’s upward trajectory.

Big thanks to Simon from Moores of Coleraine who sponsored the game.