COLERAINE would win a second successive pre-season game by a 4-1 scoreline as they put Annagh United to the sword at The Showgrounds…
The Bannsiders played new recruits Conor McDermott and Kieran Farren in the heart of the defence but it would be last season’s Championship runners-up who would take the lead inside two minutes. A long ball over the top caused confusion in the Coleraine ranks and meant Lyndon Kane scored an unfortunate own goal.
However, Coleraine’s response would be a good one as Evan McLaughlin and Jamie Glackin both steered efforts wide but the pressure would be rewarded on 11 minutes as the scores were level. A clever piece of play by Glackin released Lee Lynch inside the box and the summer arrival expertly guided the ball into the bottom corner.
Minutes later, a strike from distance would leave the Coleraine crossbar shaking whilst Evan McLaughlin also went close at the other end as his effort went wide of the far post. On 22 minutes, the Stripes would edge ahead as more good football from Glackin and Evan McLaughlin teed up Matthew Shevlin who converted inside the box.
The final chance of the half would land at the feet of Evan McLaughlin yet again. A great through ball by Farren released the Derry City loanee but his well driven effort from an acute angle never really troubled the Annagh goal.
Similarly to the first-half, Annagh would go close to scoring as a melee in the box meant Craig Taylor’s crisp goal bound effort had be blocked. From the resulting attack, Coleraine would punish that miss to go 3-1 ahead as Shevlin finished after a good ball by Conor McKendry.
On 64 minutes, the game should have been put without doubt as McKendry was yet again involved as the winger had the patience and then the vision to pick out Glackin inside the box. The midfielder met the ball with authority but the shot went into the stand rather than the goal.
A rampant Coleraine would add a fourth on 72 minutes as Evan McLaughlin finally got a goal his performance deserved. After Glackin would see a close range effort saved, the lively winger was first to the ball to blast his effort into the back of the net.
Before the full-time whistle, Oran Kearney’s men would go close to bagging yet again as Shevlin would be thwarted from getting a hat-trick after a smart save, with Josh Carson also having a sense of frustration as his daisy cutter came back off the post.
COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, A. Jarvis, McKendry, Carson, Farren, Lynch, Glackin, E. McLaughlin, McDermott, Shevlin.
Subs Not Used: McDowell (GK), Moffatt, Kelly.