COLERAINE finalised their pre-season preparations with a 4-1 win against Ards at The Showgrounds…
The Bannsiders would take the lead after just two minutes with their first venture forward as the ball was worked to Evan McLaughlin who lashed the ball into the back of the net.
However, the advantage would only last three minutes as Ards drew level. A misplaced pass was seized upon by Eamon McAllister and the winger punished the hosts by finding the bottom corner.
After Matthew Shevlin would see a goal bound effort blocked, Matthew Tipton’s men would threaten again as McAllister would be denied by a superb stop by Martin Gallagher.
Coleraine would hit the front on 31 minutes as a crisp cross into the box by Lyndon Kane was held up by Shevlin and this allowed Lee Lynch to arrow an effort beyond the reach of Alex Moore.
Before the half-time whistle, the hosts went close to adding to their lead as Jamie Glackin, Conor McDermott and Kane all combined to tee up Evan McLaughlin, who saw a strike turned around the post by Moore.
On 51 minutes, McLaughlin and Coleraine would strike yet again as a delivery into the box by Glackin wasn’t cleared by the Ards defence and this was punished as the winger lashed home the rebound.
Just after the hour mark, Coleraine went within a whisker of grabbing a fourth as Kane’s shot was blocked into the path of Josh Carson who would drag an effort wide.
After a raft of substitutions, the Stripes would add a fourth goal of the contest as a delivery into the front post by Carson was stabbed home by James McLaughlin on 69 minutes.
At the death, Coleraine would be awarded a penalty after Dean Brown was upended inside the area but James McLaughlin could only send his spot kick off the crossbar.
COLERAINE: Gallagher, Kane, D. Jarvis (McKendry ’64 mins), Carson (A. Jarvis ’64 mins), Farren, O’Donnell (Brown ’64 mins), Lynch (O’Mahony ’64 mins), Glackin (D. Brown ’75 mins), E. McLaughlin (Mitchell ’75 mins), McDermott, Shevlin (J. McLaughlin ’64 mins).
Subs Not Used: Wilson, Friel.