Down Memory Lane

PAUL GASTON would be at the double as his brace helped the Bannsiders secure a 3-1 win against Linfield in 2002…

Date:

Saturday, December 14, 2002

Result:

Coleraine 3-1 Linfield

Goals – Hamill (’13 mins), Gaston (’15 mins &’ 43 mins); Picking (’52 mins)

Report:

David Jeffrey’s troubles continued with a dreadful first half display maintaining his team’s dismal away league form.

The Blues have not claimed an away win since 5 October.

Jeffrey’s team never looked like winning this game.

To rub salt into Jeffrey’s wounds, two former Linfield oldboys performed superbly for Coleraine.

Ex-Blues hero Stephen Beatty supplied the cross for Rory Hamill’s 13th minute goal.

Tony Gorman, who left Linfield during the summer, also had a superb game for Marty Quinn’s outfit.

Hamill’s opener was followed two minutes later by Paul Gaston’s long-range strike which Alan Mannus never saw.

Gaston hit Coleraine’s third before half-time to wreck any chance of a Blues revival.

No doubt following a stern half-time team talk, Linfield improved slightly in the third quarter.

Former Coleraine winger Mark Picking pulled a goal back for the Blues in the 52nd minute.

However, Coleraine maintained their grip on the game with relative ease thereafter.

Indeed the home team should have added to the lead with Gorman and Sean Armstrong missing glorious chance.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: O’Hare, Clanachan, Flynn, Gaston, McAuley, Beatty, Gorman, Hamill, Tolan (Armstrong ’77 mins), McAllister, McCoosh.

Sub Not Used: McHugh, Murphy.

LINFIELD: Mannus, Collier, McShane (Gault ’45 mins), Picking, W.Murphy, King, McBride (Larmour ’65 mins), Feeney (McCann ’48 mins), D.Murphy, Morgan, Bailie.

Referee:

G. McCay