Last Time Out

COLERAINE finished their Premiership campaign with a 3-0 win against already-crowned champions Larne at The Showgrounds…

Date:

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Result:

Coleraine 3-0 Larne

Goals – Shevlin (’51 mins & ’63 mins), Glackin (’90+1 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE ended their Danske Bank Premiership campaign on a high as a brace from Matthew Shevlin and Jamie Glackin’s fine finish sealed a 3-0 win against Larne at The Showgrounds.

The Bannsiders would make three changes for the fixture as Martin Gallagher replaced Gareth Deane between the sticks, with Jamie Glackin and Josh Carson also coming in for Conor McDermott and Andy Scott.

As the visitors travelled to The Showgrounds with the Gibson Cup already in the cabinet, they would have the first chance of the game on 18 minutes. A cross into the box by Micheal Glynn met the head of Lee Bonis but the striker failed to convert.

The Stripes would enjoy plenty of possession but just couldn’t force Jamie Pardington into action, with Gallagher at the other end busy yet again to deny Bonis once more after he was picked out by Thomas Maguire.

The lively Maguire – who made the switch to Inver Park in December – would be the next to have a strike on goal as his attempt from an acute angle failed to test Gallagher.

Oran Kearney’s men would go close just before the half-time whistle as Lee Lynch’s back post cross picked out Jack O’Mahony but the midfielder couldn’t convert.

Coleraine would start the second-half where they left off from the first as they almost took the lead in fortuitous circumstances. A cross by Lynch was diverted away from goal by Albert Watson with the ball coming off team-mate Glynn, however, Pardington was alert to dive low and top the ball away.

The breakthrough would arrive on 51 minutes as a cross into the box by Josh Carson wasn’t defended by the visitors and Matthew Shevlin was in the right place at the right time to convert from 10 yards.

Shevlin led the race for the golden boot heading into the final day of the campaign and he would ensure he would end the league’s top goalscorer as he added his second of the evening on 63 minutes. A cross by Lynch picked out the striker and he did the rest by stroking the ball into the net.

After Alfie Gaston was handed his senior debut for Coleraine, Larne looked for a way back into the contest and threatened on 75 minutes as a cross into the box made its way to Randy Wolters but the Dutchman’s effort was comfortably held by Gallagher. A minute later, another substitute would go close as Paul O’Neill was denied by an onrushing Gallagher.

Coleraine would add a late third on the counter attack as Glackin was slipped through and the winger did the rest by remaining calm and finding the back of the net.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Gallagher, D. Jarvis, McKendry, Lowry, Carson, Farren, O’Donnell, Lynch, Glackin, O’Mahony (McCrudden ’46 mins), Shevlin (Gaston ’75 mins).

Subs Not Used: Deane (GK), Kane, Fyfe, Scott, Devine.

LARNE: Pardington, Want, Watson (O’Neill ’79 mins), Kearns (Hutchison ’53 mins), Randall (Thomson ’53 mins), Bonis, Gordon (Wolters ’53 mins), Maguire (Walker ’68 mins), Glynn, Ryan, Brown.

Subs Not Used: Ferguson (GK), Donnelly.

Referee:

Keith Kennedy

Highlights:

HERE