COLERAINE recorded back-to-back wins in the Sports Direct Premiership for the first time since October following a 2-0 success away at Newry City…
By: Charlie Cooke
Oran Kearney was forced into making one change to the starting eleven that saw the Bannsiders claim a win over Linfield at The Showgrounds last Friday night, which saw captain Stephen O’Donnell replaced by Kieran Farren in the heart of the back four.
With six minutes on the clock, Conor McKendry received the ball from about 30 yards an unleashed an absolute rocket that caught Conor Mitchell off-guard as the ball hit the back of the net to open the scoring.
With 18 minutes played, Coleraine were awarded a penalty after Ryan McGivern was adjudged to have handled the ball in the Newry box. However, Jamie McGonigle saw his penalty saved by an outstretched Mitchell.
Soon after, McGonigle latched on to Jamie Glackin’s through ball but the striker was denied by Mitchell, with Jack Scott’s attempt from the rebound off target.
On the half hour mark, the Bannsiders doubled their lead after Glackin’s accurate ball from a corner kick found the head of Matthew Shevlin at back post to head home for his second goal in as many games.
The last action of the first half saw Rory Brown called into action as he tipped Ciaran O’Connor’s downward header out for a corner-kick.
After a passive start to the second by half by both teams, the game was sparked into life as McGonigle forced Mitchell into a reflex save to prevent the ex-Derry City ace from finding the far corner.
It wasn’t to be McGonigle’s day as he was once again thwarted by Mitchell. The 27-year-old beat Alex O’Brien on the by-line and burst into the box but his low strike was saved by the Newry stopper.
The last action of the game saw Rory Brown preserve his clean sheet as the Bannsiders ‘keeper came off his line to deny John McGovern inside the penalty area.
Our next fixture in the Sport Direct Irish Premiership is at to Larne on Saturday, March 9.
NEWRY CITY: Mitchell, King, N. Healy, McGivern, McCaffrey, O’Connor, McGovern, Salley (Carroll ‘79 mins), Scullion, Poynton (O’Brien ‘66 mins), Doyle (Forde ‘79 mins).
Subs Not Used: Maguire (GK), Mooney, McDonagh, McGovern.
COLERAINE: Brown, Kane, D. Jarvis, Kelly, McKendry (A. Scott ‘82 mins), Lowry, Shevlin, Farren, Glackin (A. Jarvis ‘66 mins), J. Scott, McGonigle (Lynch ‘90 mins).
Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Cole, O’Mahony, O’Hara.
Referee: Keith Kennedy