Last Time Out

COLERAINE would lose out to Glenavon back in December as Matthew Snoddy would score the only goal of the game…

Date:

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Result:

Glenavon 1-0 Coleraine

Goal – Snoddy (’82 mins)

Report: 

COLERAINE suffered back-to-back defeats in the Danske Bank Premiership as Matthew Snoddy’s late goal was the difference at Mourneview Park.

Oran Kearney made two alterations to his starting line-up as Josh Carson replaced the suspended Aaron Traynor, with Eoin Bradley also coming at the expense of Aaron Jarvis. This meant Jamie Glackin partnered Stephen Lowry in centre midfield and Patrick Kelly deputised on the left-hand side of midfield.

There would be a bright start to proceedings in County Armagh as Peter Campbell tested the gloves of Gareth Deane from outside the area on seven minutes, before Jamie Glackin’s close range strike was blocked by the body of James Taylor. A minute later, a great cross into the area from Lyndon Kane just missed a vital touch by the unmarked Patrick Kelly.

Just after Conor McKendry sent a strike over the crossbar, the Lurgan Blues would carve out the next chance of the game as Matthew Fitzpatrick teed up Andrew Waterworth but his turn and finish failed to hit the target. Soon after, the ball would land at the feet of Snoddy inside the area but his goal bound effort was blocked by Stephen O’Donnell.

The Stripes would end the opening half strongly as McKendry’s strike from 25 yards was turned around the post by Taylor. From the resulting corner, Rodney Brown almost made it two goals in as many games but his header went over the crossbar. Just before the whistle, McKendry would release Shevlin but he dragged his effort inches wide.

The Bannsiders almost hit the front in fortuitous circumstances on 47 minutes as Campbell’s back pass was intercepted by Bradley. The striker elected to pass rather than shoot inside the box with his lay-off being blazed over by Stephen Lowry. There would be a contentious decision a minute later as Bradley went to ground under the challenge of Danny Wallace who was the last defender but referee Andrew Davey waved play on.

A frantic start to the second-half would continue as Deane palmed over Fitzpatrick’s driven effort from the edge of the area, with Calum Birney heading over from a corner kick on 58 minutes. Just after the hour mark, Campbell would try his luck once again but his right-footed effort never looked like finding the back of the net.

The visitors went close to landing the first blow on 67 minutes as a goal mouth scramble would ensue as Bradley and Stephen O’Donnell tried to retrieve the ball when on the ground but their efforts would prove to be in vain. Ten minutes later, the lively Taylor would be a smart stop to tip over Glackin’s curling effort from 20 yards out.

The game looked like it would be settled by a solitary goal and it duly arrived on 83 minutes as the ball was presented to Snoddy on the right-hand side and the former Coleraine loanee hit a crisp effort into the bottom corner.

Kearney brought on Kirk McLaughlin for his league debut in a bid to get back into the game but the Stripes never threatened the Glenavon goal as they slipped to sixth in the Premiership standings.

Line-ups:

GLENAVON: Taylor, Birney, A. Doyle (Hall ’75 mins), Waterworth (Beggs ’83 mins), Campbell, Snoddy, Fitzpatrick, Wallace, Singleton, Garrett, Ward.

Subs Not Used: Brown (GK), Stafford, Harmon, J. Doyle, Hamilton.

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Brown, McKendry, Lowry, Bradley (Friel ’69 mins), Carson, O’Donnell, Glackin, Kelly (Jarvis ’55 mins), Shevlin (K. McLaughlin ’86 mins).

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

Referee:

Andrew Davey