COLERAINE would net three goals without reply as they got more minutes in the tank against Ballinamallard United at The Showgrounds…
The Stripes would split their squad in two as they also faced Limavady United, meaning Zac Dealey and Marty Kirk were called up to first-team action, as well as Luke Kelly, Luke Dennison and Connor Armstrong who were named as substitutes.
After Conor McKendry would see an early attempt saved, the hosts would take the lead with just three minutes on the clock as the winger was yet again involved. The ex-Larne man would be picked out inside the box and his cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Mark Stafford.
Soon after, Coleraine would threaten on three occasions as David McDaid and McKendry would both see shots saved, whilst Lee Lynch couldn’t make it two stunning free-kicks in successive weeks as his attempt was also turned around the post for a corner.
McKendry and McDaid would once again be denied, although the pressure would finally pay off as the Bannsiders went 2-0 in front on 42 minutes. After McKendry would see his snapshot parried, the alert Andy Mitchell was in the right place at the right time to stab the ball home.
At the start of the second-half, Coleraine almost grabbed a third as McDaid would see his low shot spilled by the visiting ‘keeper with Mitchell unable to convert the rebound.
Harry McConkey’s men would see a header saved by Gareth Deane before the stopper could only watch on as the Mallards smashed the post with more than twenty minutes remaining.
However, the best goal was saved to last as McKendry finally got in on the act as his strike from distance flew into the top corner.
The last chance would see the substitutes combine as Kelly’s cross found the boot of Armstrong at the edge of the box but his snapshot drifted wide.
COLERAINE: Deane, Trialist, O’Donnell, Dealey (Dennison ’76 mins), Kirk (L. Kelly ’76 mins), McKendry (Armstrong ’76 mins), Lynch, A. Jarvis, Scott, McDaid, Mitchell.
Referee: Gareth Stewart