Down Memory Lane

COLERAINE and Hamilton Academical have twice met in friendly action as Saturday marks our first competitive game against the South Lanarkshire side…

The first friendly was on Tuesday, November 5, 1996 at The Showgrounds.

It was a case of out with the old and in with the new as Hamilton shrugged off their travel sickness to stroll to victory at a rain and wind lashed Showgrounds on Tuesday night.

Manager Kenny Shiels included Finnish capture Keith Oliver on the same day that he released David Williamson.

Both managers used a string of substitutes with the Scottish Second Divison promotion candidates coming out on top.

The goalscorers for Hamilton were Paul McKenzie, Jose Manuel Quitongo, Bill Davidson and Scott McCulloch.

COLERAINE: Lamont (O’Hare ’46 mins), Clanachan (Logan ’60 mins), McAuley, Aspinall, Young, McKeever, Surgeon (Forsberg ’60 mins), McIvor, McCallan, Oliver, Bowness.

HAMILTON: Ferguson, Hillcot (Baptie ’46 mins), Renicks, McKenzie, McCullough, McIntosh, Ritchie, Quintongo, McCormick (Donachie ’54 mins), Clark, Davidson (Sherry ’63 mins).

The following year, Coleraine would host their Scottish counterparts once again on Monday, July 7, 1997.

Results don’t really matter – it’s how you shape up. That was the assessment of Sandy Clark after his Hamilton Accies side lost a two-goal lead against Coleraine on Monday night.

The Bannsiders battles back to snatch a draw and Kenny Shiels was pleased that they came back with a couple of goals and that there were encouraging signs from his players.

“Nobody likes to lose,” he said afterwards. He was pleased with the performance of the returning Tommy McCallion.

The Coleraine goalscorers were Tommy McCallion and Paul Gaston, whilst Gary Clark and Paul Ritchie netted for the Accies.

COLERAINE: Lamont (Canning ’73 mins), Clanachan, Brunton, Aspinall, Gaston, Young (McIvor ’69 mins), Shiels (Surgeon ’59 mins), O’Dowd, McCallan (Shipp ’59 mins), McAllister, McCallion.

HAMILTON: Ferguson, Hillcoat, Cunnington, McKenzie, McCulloch (McFarlane ’65 mins), McIntosh, Quitonga (Bonnar ’75 mins), McEntegart (McQuade ’21 mins), Ritchie, Clark, McCormick.

*Many thanks to Hunter McClelland for his assistance*