Last Time Out

COLERAINE produced arguably their best performance of the season to date as they came from behind to defeat Glentoran at The Oval back in September…

Date:

Friday, September 22, 2023

Result:

Glentoran 1-2 Coleraine

Goals – Singleton (’25 mins); Shevlin (’79 mins), McKendry (’82 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE gained all three points as they came from behind to beat Glentoran under the Friday night lights at The Oval.

There was one change made to the Bannsiders’ starting line-up which saw Andy Scott replace David McDaid, meaning Jamie Glackin was moved up-front beside Matthew Shevlin.

With 17 minutes played, Lee Lynch found himself on the end of Shevlin’s backheeled pass, however the midfielder saw his shot sail over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Shevlin also turned provider again as he slipped in Andy Scott one-on-one with Aaron McCarey but the winger’s first-time shot was pushed on to the post by the fingertips of the Glens ‘keeper.

Despite that early pressure, Glentoran opened the scoring on 24 minutes from a well delivered free kick from Shay McCartan. The former Northern Ireland international put the ball on a plate for James Singleton who seemed to appear out of nowhere at the back post to steer his effort past a stranded Martin Gallagher.

Coleraine went in search of an in instant response as Scott and Dean Jarvis combined inside the Glentoran penalty area. The ball was passed to Shevlin whose deflected shot forced McCarey into a save.

Soon after, Jamie Glackin saw his attempt from just outside the box saved by McCarey after he was teed up by Scott after a dynamic run down the left wing.

The last action of the first saw Conor McKendry cut in from the right wing, he saw his long-range daisy cutter go out for a corner. From the resulting set piece, Dean Jarvis had a shot that was well off target.

The first goal mouth action of the second-half saw McKendry and Lyndon Kane link-up as a crossed ball met the head of Shevlin who saw his header easily caught by McCarey.

On the hour mark, the ball landed at the feet of Glackin whose low curling shot just drifted the wrong side of the post for the Bannsiders.

With 72 minutes played, substitute Lee Harkin came close to an equaliser as he took a touch to set himself and his dipping shot went a yard or two over the woodwork.

Four minutes later, Scott’s first time pass to McKendry in the box allowed Conor to set himself as he found enough space to get a shot away which forced McCarey into a diving save.

The Stripes deserved a goal for their efforts and it duly arrived on 79 minutes. Harkin’s powerful and accurate cross from the left wing meant all Shevlin had to do was get a flick on the ball which made McCarey a spectator in the Glentoran goal as the ball rattled the back of net to make it 1-1.

A dramatic turnaround would be completed just two minutes later as McKendry made it 2-1. The winger cut in from the right-hand side, evaded several challenges before arrowing a pin-point strike into the bottom corner.

The last action of the match saw Harkin’s goal bound shot being blocked by Sule after Shevlin’s ball into space opened the opportunity up for the striker.

The Bannsiders are on the road again in our next match as we take on Cliftonville at Solitude on Tuesday night.

Line-ups:

GLENTORAN: McCarey, Wilson, Burns, McCartan, Donnelly (Feeney ’74 mins), Singleton, Sule, Fisher (Junior ’53 mins), Kelly (Murray ’71 mins), McClean, McGinn.

Subs Not Used: Webber (GK), Palmer, Russell.

COLERAINE: Gallagher, Kane, D. Jarvis, Kelly, McKendry, Shevlin (Lowry ‘90 mins), Carson, Lynch, Glackin (Harkin ‘68 mins), Cole, Scott.

Subs Not Used: Donnelly (GK), A. Jarvis, McDaid, Mitchell, Devine.

Referee:

Christopher Morrison

Highlights:

HERE