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 the Bannsiders recorded an impressive 3-1 victory at The Oval in February 2009…

Date:

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Result:

Glentoran 1-3 Coleraine

Goals – Fordyce (’86 mins); Carson (’21 mins), Gibson (’49 mins), Crossan pen (’79 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE gained revenge for their controversial cup defeat with a 3-1 win over 10-man Glentoran at The Oval.

Goals from Stephen Carson, Richard Gibson and Matt Crossan gave the Bannsiders a first victory in East Belfast since December 2003 and sent them up to fourth place in the JJB Premiership table. Coleraine made a bright start as good work by Gibson led to a chance for Boyce, who headed Carson’s cross over the bar, while John Neill just shot wide with an ambitious long range effort.

Gary Hamilton was off target with a free kick for the home side who were rather subdued from the off. Just as they had done on three previous occasions against the Glens this season, Coleraine went in front. O’Hare’s long punt forward was badly misjudged by Hill and this allowed Boyce to nip in ahead of him and take the ball. He advanced forward and drew Morris off his line before squaring to Carson, who held of the challenge of a defender to score in the empty net.

Glentoran did have the ball in the net through Nixon, although their celebrations were stopped prematurely as the linesman had already raised his flag for an offside. Davy O’Hare was also called into action to deny Fordyce by tipping his effort over the bar. Glentoran were reduced to ten men just after the half hour as Carson challenged for the ball in the air with Jamie McGovern. McGovern went down, but also kicked out at Carson, leaving referee Davy Malcolm no option but to show him a red card for his retaliation, while Carson was shown a yellow for his initial challenge.

Glentoran, as many teams reduced to ten men do, began to push for an equaliser and Coleraine suddenly found themselves on the back foot. Glentoran forced a couple of set pieces which were well dealt with, but they were presented with a golden opportunity to draw level before the break as Gary Hamilton was brought down inside the area and Malcolm pointed to the spot. This set up another personal duel between O’Hare and Hamilton – the Glentoran forward had come out on top in the cup tie last week, but on this occasion the honours went to O’Hare as he guessed right and turned away a poor effort from Hamilton, giving Coleraine a massive lift as they headed in at the break.

After Paul Leeman had headed wide for the home side early in the second half, Coleraine extended their lead after a great bit of play by Carson. He took the ball forward down the left before whipping a low cross into the box. Tommons was unable to connect, but it came to the impressive Gibson at the far post who slotted it home. It was his first goal since the two sides’ previous league meeting at The Showgrounds in December.

Tommons and Neill both shot off target and Gibson saw a shot scrambled away before Coleraine extended their lead further. A rampaging run by Gibson was stopped when he was upended in the box by Morris and Malcolm again pointed to the spot. Substitute Matt Crossan, not long on the pitch, stepped up and confidently dispatched the ball into the net and in doing so he put Coleraine out of reach.

It could have been four if Morris had not made a smart save to deny Patton, but Glentoran threatened a late revival as O’Hare saved from Hamilton and then with four minutes left, Fordyce grabbed a consolation goal by slotting past O’Hare at the near post. But consolation was all it would be as Coleraine saw out an impressive victory and greatly strengthened their chances of a top six finish.

Line-ups:

GLENTORAN: Morris, Nixon, Hill, Leeman, Fordyce, Hamilton, Waterworth (Burrows ’40 mins), Fitzgerald, Carson (Halliday ’71 mins), Gardiner (Simpson ’34 mins), McGovern.

Subs Not Used: Ja Taylor (GK), Scullion.

COLERAINE: O’Hare, Beverland, Harkin, Tommons (Crossan), McVey, P McLaughlin, Boyce (Watt), Neill, Gibson (Patton), McCallion, Carson.

Subs Not Used: Hunter, Dooley.

Referee:

Davy Malcolm