Cup exit for 20’s

COLERAINE U20s knocked out of the Intermediate Cup by Larne but Coleraine U18s net four times without reply against Ards…

NIFL Academy U18

Coleraine 4-0 Ards

Coleraine welcomed Ards to Rugby Avenue on Friday in this league encounter.

Coleraine started well and almost took the lead in the opening minutes when Mackay found space in the box but his drive came back of the underside of the crossbar. Soon after, Patton had a good chance running on to a through ball but he couldn’t convert.

Ards began playing their way into the game and for the final 20 minutes of the first half, they created a number of opportunities and had Coleraine on the ropes but Henry in the Coleraine goal was equal to anything Ards had to offer.

The first half finished all square but Ards could probably feel they should have been ahead.

The second-half was only a minute old when the determined Bannsiders hit the front – a Cullen strike came back off the Ards goalkeeper and Patton was well placed to drive home from 15 yards. This settled Coleraine and they gained control of the game and Ards found it difficult to create any chances of note against the well organised Coleraine defence. However, to their credit they kept going and were always in the game.

Cullen was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when it looked like he had been taken down in the box. Fortunately for the home side this did not impact the result as with 15 minutes remaining Cullen cut in from the right and arrowed a fine drive past the Ards ‘keeper to double Coleraine’s lead.

Coleraine made the game safe with 10 minutes to go when Dealey rose highest to head home a cross from McBride. A few minutes later, Smyth put the icing on the cake when he raced clear from a Devine pass and rounded the ‘keeper to make it four.

A well deserved victory for the young Bannsiders but Ards can feel unlucky at the margin of the victory as they were well in the game for long periods.

SQUAD: Henry, Stewart, McBride, Dealey, Callaghan, Keogh, Kelly, Elliot, Mackay, Cullen, Patton, McIntyre, Devine, Kyle, Greer, Smyth.

McComb’s Coach Travel Intermediate Cup

Coleraine 1-3 Larne

Coleraine suffered defeat in this keenly contested Intermediate Cup tie at The Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.

Coleraine fell behind from a deflected effort early on before Larne doubled their lead early in the second half from the penalty spot.

Coleraine regrouped and got back in game when good work from Riley set up McLaughlin who finished well. The Bannsiders pushed on in search of the equaliser but couldn’t force the goal.

Larne made the game safe in the final minute to leave the final score 3-1 to the visitors.

SQUAD: Shiels, Riley, Tosh, Curran, McNeill, Callaghan, Stinson, McFeely, Kirk, Quigley, McLaughlin, Mackay, Watton, Cullen, Elliot.