COLERAINE began their pre-season schedule as they recorded a 5-1 victory against Ballymoney United at The Showgrounds…
By: Charlie Cooke
With less than a minute on the clock, Coleraine would have a sight of goal as Luca Doherty found himself in a central position in the box. The visiting goalkeeper came out to cut off his options, with Doherty’s chip going past the wrong side of the post.
On five minutes, the visitors would nearly score an own goal as a loose ball pass from Coleraine pressure saw the Toon goalkeeper having to rush back to his line to stop the ball from going into the net,
However, Coleraine would make the breakthrough a minute later as a drilled cross from the right-hand side found Doherty standing in a yard of space. The Northern Ireland youth international took a neat first touch and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
Soon after, the lead would be doubled as a very well worked team goal resulted in Corey McLaughlin finishing from inside the box.
That two-goal cushion would be quickly wiped out as Ballymoney caught Coleraine sleeping from the kick-off and the visitors instantly attacked. The Ballymoney player received the ball at the edge of the box and scored a brilliant chip.
Just after the half hour mark, the post would deny Doherty a second after the winger was set-up by Andy Mitchell.
The Bannsiders would make a strong start to the second-half and went 3-1 ahead within five minutes of the restart. Just after Conor McKendry saw a shot from outside the box go wide, the same player would make no mistake from a sweetly hit free-kick which saw the ball arrow into the top corner.
On 74 minutes, a sustained period of pressure from Oran Kearney’s side was rewarded when Coleraine made it 4-1. A cross into the box wasn’t defended by United, which allowed Jack O’Mahony to stab the ball home from close range.
With less than ten minutes remaining, a fifth goal of the afternoon would arrive as a fast cross along the ground was met by McKendry who hit an expertly timed first time effort that saw the ball nestle into the back of the net.
A good workout for the Stripes which resulted in several youngsters also getting their chance to impress.
COLERAINE: Donnelly, Trialist, O’Donnell, A. Jarvis, Moffatt, McKendry, C. McLaughlin (Dealey ’68 mins), Lowry, L. Doherty, O’Mahony, Mitchell (Smyth ’68 mins).
Referee: Keith Kennedy