Last Time Out

COLERAINE would suffer heartache in the BetMcLean League Cup final as they were edged out by Cliftonville last month…

Date:

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Result:

Coleraine 3-4 Cliftonville

Goals – Shevlin (’58 mins), Lowry (’63 mins), Allen (‘119 mins); Gormley (’74 mins & ‘107 mins), O’Neill (’90 mins & ‘104 mins)

Report: 

COLERAINE would be denied back-to-back League Cup triumphs as they were beaten by Cliftonville at Windsor Park.

After an early stoppage due to a clash of heads, it would be Cliftonville who would have the first chance of the game as Levi Ives’ inswinging delivery was headed inches wide at the back post by Ryan Curran. On seven minutes, Coleraine would have their own sight of goal as Jamie Glackin galloped down the right-hand side and his cut back was smashed over the bar by Matthew Shevlin.

A minute later, Josh Carson picked up possession on the left flank but his strike from the edge of the area failed to trouble Luke McNicholas in the Cliftonville goal. The Reds’ tormentor in chief against Coleraine this season, Jamie McDonagh, would be next to try his luck as his touch and half volley whistled over the crossbar.

The first-half would fail to create any meaningful chances with Cliftonville testing the gloves of Deane on 35 minutes as Rory Hale let fly from distance.

The game needed a goal to spark it into life and it duly arrived on 58 minutes as Lyndon Kane picked up possession inside his own half, ventured forward and released Shevlin inside the box. The striker still had a lot to do but he managed to squeeze the ball under the body of McNicholas for his 20th goal of the season.

There would be further joy five minutes as Rodney Brown flicked on a corner kick with the ball loose inside the Reds area. The lively Stephen Lowry was the first to react as he cannoned an unstoppable effort into the net via the crossbar.

However, Cliftonville would reduce their arrears on 74 minutes as a crisp cross by Ryan Curran met the head of Joe Gormley and the marksman made no mistake as he diverted the ball into the bottom corner. The dangerous Gormley would once again come close as his looping header went inches over the crossbar.

The Stripes looked like doing enough to get over the line as Aaron Traynor was in the right place at the right time to block Gormley’s goal bound effort but that still wouldn’t be enough as the Reds pulled level. A throw-in into the box was cleared with substitute Paul O’Neill having an easy task to slot home.

The Bannsiders would suffer a blow just two minutes into extra-time as James McLaughlin was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident involving Chris Curran. Paddy McLaughlin’s side almost made the extra man count on 102 minutes as Deane made a fine stop to deny O’Neill. Heartbreakingly, Cliftonville would edge ahead on 105 minutes as Chris Curran crossed for O’Neill who blasted the ball into the net.

Coleraine’s task would be made even tougher on 107 minutes as Cliftonville went 4-2 ahead. The ball presented itself to Ryan Curran in space and the striker had the vision to pick out Gormley who had the simple task of firing into an empty net. Just after Gormley would be denied a hat-trick by the offside flag, Coleraine would pull a late goal back as Curtis Allen found the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Brown, McKendry (Wilson ’73 mins), Lowry, Carson, O’Donnell, Glackin (McLaughin ’78 mins), Traynor (Allen ‘106 mins), Kelly, Shevlin (Bradley ’88 mins)

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Mullan, Jarvis.

CLIFTONVILLE: McNicholas, Ives, Hale (C. Curran ’53 mins), R. Curran, McDonagh (Coates ‘112 mins), Lowe, Addis, Doherty (O’Neill ’70 mins), Turner, Gallagher, Kearns (Gormley ’61 mins).

Subs Not Used: McKenna (GK), McDermott, Donnelly.

Referee:

Andrew Davey