Last Time Out

COLERAINE would lose out to Linfield at the start of December as Stephen Fallon’s winner was the difference at The Showgrounds…

Date:

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Result:

Coleraine 1-2 Linfield

Goals – Brown (’24 mins); Manzinga (’38 mins), Fallon (’49 mins)

Report: 

COLERAINE lost at home for the first time in over a year in the Danske Bank Premiership as they were beaten by Linfield.

All good things must come to an end!

Coleraine’s impressive unbeaten run was ended this afternoon.

Linfield showed they are in no mood to give up their title as they triumphed at a wind swept Showgrounds.

Coleraine made a nervy start to the game.

Aaron Traynor was booked in the second minute for a foul on Christy Manzinga and from the resultant third minute free kick, Gareth Deane was called into action to keep out Ahmed Salam’s set piece.

The home side burst into life on ten minutes.

Patrick Kelly’s solo run took him past Jimmy Callacher and Chris Shields before Chris Johns saved his shot.

Kirk Millar tried his luck from long range on 25 minutes but his shot was well over the crossbar.

It was the Bannsiders who made the all important breakthrough after 24 minutes.

Conor McKendry sent a corner into the box where Rodney Brown rose to head past Johns.

Jamie Glackin wasn’t far away from doubling the lead eight minutes later but his curling effort from Brown’s pass went narrowly wide of the far post.

Linfield hit back seven minutes before half time.

Kirk Millar crashed a shot against the crossbar but Mazinga was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

Matthew Clarke almost struck with the last attack of the half but he hooked his shot from Millar’s cross onto the roof of the net.

The Blues turned the game on its head within three minutes of the second half…in controversial circumstances.

Stevie Fallon rifled home from 25 yards but Coleraine players protested that referee Tim Marshall had obstructed their attempts to block Fallon’s shot, whilst handling the ball in the process.

However, after consulting with his officials, Marshall awarded the goal.

Aaron Traynor tried to provide a quick response but his 58th minute effort sailed over.

The home side stepped up the pressure as they searched for an equaliser.

Shevlin touched Glackin’s corner onto the crossbar and then drilled over on the hour mark.

Lyndon Kane then delivered a great cross into an inviting area and Shevlin glanced a header inches wide.

The hosts had strong penalty appeals waved away on 68 minutes as Shevlin appeared to be pushed as he tried to connect with Stevie O’Donnell”s cross.

It was that man Shevlin who had a chance to grab a late leveller from Eoin Bradley’s cutback seven minutes from time but he smashed his shot straight at Johns.

Stevie Lowry tested Johns in injury time but the Blues held on for an important win.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Brown, Jarvis (Bradley ’58 mins), McKendry, Lowry, O’Donnell, Glackin, Traynor (Friel ’80 mins), Kelly, Shevlin.

Subs Not Used: Henderson (GK), Mullan, Wilson, Tweed, Parkhill.

LINFIELD: Johns, Roscoe, Shields, Callacher, Millar, Hume, Manzinga (A. Clarke ’90 mins), M. Clarke, McClean (Archer ’90 mins), Fallon, Salam.

Subs Not Used: Walsh (GK), Larkin, Donnelly, Carroll, Marshall.

Referee:

Tim Marshall