COLERAINE would lose on the road for the first time this season as they were beaten by Glentoran at The Oval…
The Bannsiders would make four changes from the team that beat Dergview in the BetMcLean League Cup as Lyndon Kane, Josh Carson, Jamie Glackin and Matthew Shevlin were restored to the starting eleven.
After a quiet opening to proceedings, the Glens would have the first chance of the game on 22 minutes as a header by Jay Donnelly released Conor McMenamin inside the box. The winger – who was called up for the latest Northern Ireland squad – hit a shot on goal that forced Martin Gallagher into a smart stop.
That chance would spark the hosts into life as they threatened just two minutes later. A run of the ball favoured Shay McCartan and the former Ballymena United man would send an effort just wide of the near post.
The Bannsiders didn’t overly create anything of note in the opening 45 minutes as the game petered into half-time.
Coleraine would have a strong call for a penalty turned down early in the second-half as Shevlin was brought to ground by Aaron McCarey inside the box, but referee Jamie Robinson waved play on and turned down the appeals.
On 63 minutes, the deadlock would be broken as Glentoran finished a slick counter attack move to take the lead. After Coleraine looked like getting a shot on goal, the ball would be cleared up field to McMenamin who played through Jay Donnelly. The striker would see his shot saved by Gallagher but McMenamin was in the right place at the right time to stab the rebound home.
Oran Kearney brought on Conor McDermott and Michael McCrudden in a bid to get back into the contest and that almost proved dividends as McCrudden blazed over from Lyndon Kane’s cross, before the same player failed to get a meaningful connection onto Glackin’s cross.
With Coleraine pushing forward for an equaliser they would almost concede a second as the ball was worked to Danny Purkis inside the area but the substitute arrowed wide.
GLENTORAN: McCarey, Kane (R. Donnelly ’46 mins), Wilson, Burns, McCartan (Crowe ’85 mins), Marshall, J. Donnelly (Purkis ’78 mins), McClean, Devlin, McMenamin, Plum (Murray ’78 mins).
Subs Not Used: Webber (GK), Roy, Wightman.
COLERAINE: Gallagher, Kane, D. Jarvis, A. Jarvis (McCrudden ’70 mins), McKendry (McDermott ’70 mins), Carson, Farren, O’Donnell, Lynch (E. McLaughlin ’83 mins), Glackin, Shevlin.
Subs Not Used: McDowell (GK), Mullan, J. McLaughlin, O’Mahony.
Referee: Jamie Robinson