MISSED chances cost Coleraine dear as they lost 3-1 to Hamilton Academical in the SPFL Trust Trophy at The Showgrounds…
By: Charlie Cooke
Three changes were made to the Bannsiders starting line-up as Martin Gallagher started in nets as Gareth Deane was named on the bench. Josh Carson returned from injury to feature in the midfield at the expense of Andy Scott, whilst Graham Kelly also started.
With eight minutes played, Conor McKendry had the first goal scoring opportunity for Coleraine as he picked the ball on the right wing midway the Accies’ half, he drove forward and saw his powerful shot from the right-wing fizz past the wrong side of post.
With 11 minutes gone, Hamilton made it 1-0 after Lewis Smith skipped over Josh Carson who tried to tackle him but he unsuccessful, Smith cut in and saw his shot across Martin Gallagher find the back of the net.
However, Coleraine would equalize on 24 minutes as McKendry’s searching cross found Matthew Shevlin who teed the ball up for Lee Lynch who saw his shot across the ‘keeper nestle in the back of the Accies’ net.
A moment later, it was almost déjà vu as McKendry fired a low cross into the box that found Lynch although this time Lee couldn’t sort his feet quick enough, and his shot went wide of the post.
With 27 minutes on the clock, Shevlin found himself in enough space to turn and fire an effort towards goal but it was well saved by Jamie Smith in the Accies goal.
The last action of the half saw Lynch chest the ball down as he sped forward on the left wing, the Limerick native fizzed a dangerous cross into Hamilton’s box but unfortunately for the Bannsiders no one in a blue and white jersey was able to get on the end of his delivery.
Three minutes into the second half, Hamilton made 2-1 as a dangerous low cross from the right wing found Dario Zanatta in space, his first time shot found the back of the net.
With 52 minutes played, McKendry and Lynch combined again as Conor passed the ball to an overlapping Lee, which saw the latter put a cross into the box that found Shevlin at the front post, however he was unlucky to see his go wide of the post.
With 63 minutes played, Dean Jarvis called the Accies’ keeper into action as his powerful cross come shot from the left wing almost sneaked over the line, if not for an acrobatic save on the line from the impressive Jamie Smith.
With 80 minutes on the clock, the Bannsiders had a chance to equalise as Senan Devine’s cross found an unbalanced Lyndon Kane in the box, who saw his shot send the ball way over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Hamilton made the score line 3-1 through their substitute Jamie Barjonas. The Accies caught Coleraine sleeping on the counter-attack, a low cross came in from the right wing and it was finished confidently by ex-Rangers ace Barjonas.
The last action of the game saw Glackin played through on the left side of the box by Dean Jarvis, however the midfielder saw his shot hit the side net.
The Bannsiders return to Irish League action next Saturday against Newry City at 3pm at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
COLERAINE: Gallagher, Kane, D. Jarvis, Kelly, A. Jarvis (Devine ‘46 mins), McKendry, Shevlin, Carson, Lynch (McDaid ‘81 mins), Glackin, Cole.
Subs Not Used: Deane (GK), Mitchell, Wallace, McCrudden, Harkin, Gaston, Tejada.
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL: J. Smith, Longridge, Kilday, Henderson (Tait ‘88 mins), Martin, Zanatta (O’Hara ‘64 mins), L. Smith (Hendrie ‘84 mins), Murray (Barjonas ‘64 mins), MacDonald, McGowan (O’Brien ‘64 mins), Tumilty.
Subs Not Used: Fulton (GK), McGlynn, McGinn, Hewitt.
Referee: Christopher Morrison