Down Memory Lane

WITH the on-going help of club historian Hunter McClelland, colerainefc.com brings you the latest instalment of the ‘Down Memory Lane’ series as Swedish club Orgryte IS were visitors to The Showgrounds…

Date:

Thursday, August 10, 2000.

Result:

Coleraine 1-2 Orgryte IS

Goals – McLaughlin (59 mins); Hemberg (8 mins), Johansson (80 mins)

Report:

Kevin McKeown had good reason to look towards the heavens: he had contributed to a defiant Coleraine performance only for his heroics to be under mined by one error.

With barely 10 minutes remaining and the Bannsiders heading for a memorable 1-1 draw with the Swedish Cup holders, the big ‘keeper’s attempted clearance went disastrously wrong. Orgryte IS substitute Erik Johansson latched onto the wayward kick, exchanged passes with Christian Hemberg and flighted his 18-yard shot high over the retreating McKeown.

It was particularly galling for the Scot who had repeatedly repelled the best the much-vaunted Swedish strike force could produce; on at least six occasions McKeown brought off top-class saves. Nevertheless, this was a highly encouraging performance by Coleraine – new boys Ryan McLaughlin, Ian McCoosh and Jody Tolan showing up well.

McKeown was pressed into action early on, producing a double save to deny Hemberg and Elmander but he was powerless for the game’s opening goal after eight minutes. A long ball from Anegrund caused confusion in the defence and Hemberg nipped in to lob the ball into an empty net.

Marty Quinn introduced wingers Mark Picking and Kevin Keegan at the interval and it almost paid dividends, McAllister just missing with a header from six yards after 54 minutes.

Coleraine got their reward for some enter prising play minutes later. Michael Smyth’s curling free-kick from the right was headed home by McLaughlin.

Orgryte threatened again but McKeown stood his ground to block Hemberg’s shot from six yards. When he palmed away sub Marcus Allback’s fiercely hit drive 10 minutes later it seemed a draw was on the cards.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, Johansson breaking home hearts with that late strike.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: McKeown, Clanachan, Smyth, Gaston, Devine, McLaughlin, Loughery (Keegan ’46 mins), McCoosh, Tolan (Kerr ’84 mins), McAllister, Gray (Picking ’46 mins).

Sub Not Used: McAuley, Dallas, McCann, Anderson.

ORGRYTE IS: Last, Owusu, Karlsson (Allback ’67 mins), Nilsson, Kallander, Lohm (Stostedt ’75 mins), Tomaz Jnr, Ulander, Anegrund, Elmander (Johansson ’22 mins), Hemberg.

Subs Not Used: UnLindqvist, Kuhn, Perstedt, Lofgren.

Referee:

Yuri Baskakov (Russia)