Last Time Out

COLERAINE would lose to Linfield on the final day of the season as the Blues lifted the Gibson Cup…

Date:

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Result:

Linfield 2-0 Coleraine

Goals – Hall (’43 mins), McKee (’45+2 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE failed to throw a spanner into the works as Linfield collected the Gibson Cup at Windsor Park.

In front of a raucous crowd at Windsor Park, the Blues would create the first chance on ten minutes. A set piece delivery was flicked on by the head of Chris Shields and his effort trickled wide after just missing a vital touch.

Just before the half hour mark, Linfield would threaten again as they worked the ball out to Ben Hall and the defender strode forward but his strike failed to find the target.

Despite having little of the ball in the first 45 minutes, the visitors would gradually build into the game and had their first attempt on 31 minutes as James McLaughlin’s free-kick went over the bar. Minutes later, a quick counter attack would see Josh Carson fire off target.

However, Linfield would make the breakthrough on 41 minutes as a corner kick by Niall Quinn was headed in by Hall who gave Marty Gallagher no chance. With the last kick of the first-half, David Healy’s side would go further ahead as Ethan Devine crafted a wonderful through ball for Chris McKee who expertly found the bottom corner.

Coleraine would be forced into an early substitution in the second-half as Stephen Lowry made way for Lewis Tosh. However, it would be another teenager who would try and get the Bannsiders into the contest as Patrick Kelly released Matthew Shevlin but the striker blazed wide from an acute angle.

On 64 minutes, former Coleraine ‘keeper Johns would have to keep his concentration to hold Carson’s half volley from outside the box. At the other end, Jordan Stewart had the vision to pick out Matthew Clarke on the left-hand side but the full-back failed to test Gallagher.

Kearney emptied the bench by bringing on Curtis Allen and Kirk McLaughlin to add more firepower and that almost paid dividends as Allen fired over the bar after the ball wasn’t cleared by Hall.

A defeat for Coleraine who now turn their attentions to the end of season European play-offs.

Line-ups:

LINFIELD: Johns, Shields, Callacher, Millar, Stewart, Vertainen (Devine ‘9 mins), Hall, Clarke, McKee (McClean ’71 mins), Fallon (Salam ’78 mins), Quinn.

Subs Not Used: Walsh (GK), Roscoe-Byrne, Manzinga, Hastie.

COLERAINE: Gallagher, Mullan, Brown, Jarvis, Lowry (Tosh ’51 mins), J. McLaughlin (K. McLaughlin ’83 mins), Carson, Wilson, O’Donnell, Kelly, Shevlin (Allen ’72 mins).

Subs Not Used: Henderson (GK), Bradley, Elliot, Stewart.

Referee:

Ian McNabb