Down Memory Lane

Report:

ANY lingering doubts Marty Quinn may have had over whether he had made the right decision in agreeing a new deal with Coleraine must surely have been dispelled on Saturday.

The Coleraine manager, who last week turned down Newry City’s approach to sign a new three year deal with the Bannsiders, must have been purring inside after watching his players rack up their seventh successive league win.

In times gone by this was just the sort of game to trouble Coleraine. To be honest, though, a shock was never on the cards at Lakeview Park. The visitors simply brushed aside the weak challenge of their hosts, who now look destined for the drop.

In contrast, Quinn’s men look like a side on the up. Twenty-one points from their last seven games has seen them creep up to sixth place in the Carnegie Premier League table, a mere eight points behind new league leaders Portadown. They appear to be oozing confidence and a self-belief missing in the early part of the campaign.

They also have a number of the leading clubs including the Glens, the Ports and Cliftonville to play at home so perhaps the long-cherished ambition of finishing in the top six is a realistic one after all.

But back to Loughall and what was in the end a routine win for Coleraine. It’s a long time since Coleraine supporters were able to feel confident about their side closing out a game in such a fashion but there was almost an air of inevitability about this game, despite the decisive third goal coming in the final few minutes.

The Bannsiders went in front midway through the first half, conceded an equaliser from the penalty spot minutes later but recovered sufficiently to regain the advantage ten minutes before half-time. They dominated the second 45 minutes but had to rely on a Waddell own-goal in the final few minutes to steady nerves.

“It was a bit of a banana skin,” admitted boss Quinn afterwards. “We were wary of Loughall before the match: they are scrapping for points at the foot of the table, have a new manager and some new players and we were expecting a tough battle.

“But I thought we did a good job. We thoroughly deserved the win, even though the third goal didn’t come until near the end. I think Davy (O’Hare) had one save to make and we played good controlled football for most of the match.”

Stephen Carson, with his seventh goal of the season, headed Coleraine in front after 25 minutes following a well-worked corner routine. Darren Cassidy played the ball short to skipper Tommy McCallion and his chipped cross was met by the forehead of Carson who gave Loughall keeper Marc Robinson no chance.

The goal reflected Coleraine’s early dominance but instead of ramming home their advantage they committed the cardinal error of conceding almost immediately. Loughall’s Lacey skipped into the penalty area, Ryan McLaughlin made a lunging tackle and referee Trevor Mourtray pointed to the spot. Johnny Topley blasted the resulting spot-kick high into the roof of the net.

Coleraine recovered well from this setback and got their noses in front again less than ten minutes later. A slick move involving John Neill and Stephen Carson ended with Davy Patton blasting home low from 12 yards for his tenth goal of the campaign.

Line-ups:

LOUGHGALL: M Robinson, Waddell, Pentland, Peden, Roche, Gore (Gorman ’73 mins), Lawless (N. Robinson ’21 mins), Fairciough, Reilly (Herron ’73 mins), Lacey, Topley.

COLERAINE: O’Hare, Watt, McLaughlin, Cassidy, McVey, Whitehead (G. Patton ’76 mins), Neill, Boyce, D Patton, McCallion, Carson.

Subs Not Used: Anderson, Heneghan.

Referee:

Trevor Moutray

*Many thanks to Hunter McClelland for his assistance*