UNDER the crisp Wednesday night lights at the Coleraine Showgrounds, Coleraine FC Women faced Belfast Ravens in a cup encounter that tested the squad’s depth, resilience, and character…
Missing several key players, Coleraine were forced to reshuffle the pack, giving players the opportunity to step into new roles and rise to the occasion. Despite the changes, the Bannsiders burst out of the blocks with energy and intent, using their pace out wide to trouble the Ravens’ defence in the opening stages.
However, it was Belfast Ravens who struck first. A corner awarded to the visitors led to an unfortunate own goal as Coleraine’s attempted clearance misfired into the net. The goal seemed to galvanize the Ravens, who pressed their advantage and doubled their lead shortly after. What followed was a fierce end-to-end battle, with both sides creating chances in a tense first-half that ended 2-0 in favour of the visitors.
The second-half began with the Ravens continuing their attacking momentum, eventually breaching Coleraine’s backline once more to make it 3-0. Yet, the home side refused to wilt. Tactical substitutions midway through the second period injected fresh energy into the team, and Coleraine began to claw their way back into the contest.
Their breakthrough came courtesy of stand-in goalkeeper Sam Miskimmon, whose outstanding long clearance found striker Lindsay Norton. Norton showed grit and composure, beating the onrushing keeper and slotting the ball home to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
Spurred on by the goal, Coleraine pushed hard in the final minutes. Every player battled tirelessly, showing remarkable determination and team spirit. The back line and midfield in particular continued to work hard, right until the final whistle. Despite their efforts, time was not on their side, and the match ended 3-1 in favour of the visitors.
While the result didn’t go their way, the performance gave plenty of positives to build upon. The adaptability, work ethic, and unity shown by the Coleraine squad—particularly under challenging circumstances—offers real promise for the future.
A special thanks to Belfast Ravens for making the journey and best of luck in the next round of the cup. For Coleraine, the focus now turns to regrouping, refining, and returning even stronger in the weeks ahead.