Last Time Out

COLERAINE would recover from a goal behind to inflict a 4-1 defeat on Glenavon at The Showgrounds in October…

Date:

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Result:

Coleraine 4-1 Glenavon

Goals – Carson (’44 mins); McKendry (’73 & ’90+4 mins), Shevlin (’88 mins); Malone (‘6 mins)

Report:

CONOR McKendry’s brace helped Coleraine secure a 4-1 victory again Glenavon at The Showgrounds.

Oran Kearney made three changes to the starting eleven which saw Gareth Deane make a return in goal, whilst Jake Wallace was handed his first Irish League start for the Bannsiders as he replaced Graham Kelly who picked up a concussion against Bangor in the BetMcLean Cup on Tuesday night. The third and final change saw Jack O’Mahony replace Aaron Jarvis in midfield.

As Coleraine went in search of their first win against the Lurgan Blues since March 2020, they got off to the worst possible start as Glenavon took the lead on six minutes. A sweetly hit Jack Malone free-kick found the bottom corner from a central position from 25-yards.

With 12 minutes played, Matthew Shevlin had the Bannsiders’ first chance to equalise as the striker controlled the ball as it came over his shoulder but his attempt was well over crossbar as he tried to beat an on rushing Rory Brown.

Soon after, Deane made an unconventional save with his body when the ball met the head of Aaron Pendergast from an accurate cross by Peter Campbell from the left wing.

On 23 minutes, ex-Glenavon ace O’Mahony went close to scoring against his former club but his header from inside the area was palmed away by Brown after he was picked out by Conor McKendry.

Close to the half hour mark, McKendry’s sole run ended with a powerful low shot at the near that forced Brown into action. At the other end, Deane made a vital intervention has he got his hand to Steven Teggart’s low cross but somehow the ball found its way to Malone who blazed his shot over the woodwork.

The last action of the first half saw the Bannsiders equalise through a Josh Carson free kick. Glenavon tried to stack their wall with the tallest players in their team but that couldn’t stop Josh’s strike from finding back of the net for his second goal of the campaign.

Five minutes into the second half, McKendry cut in from the right wing, ran into space and had his attempt from outside the box pushed around the post by the fingertips of Brown.

On the hour mark, Lee Lynch’s low cross landed at O’Mahony’s feet with the midfielder seeing his shot blocked and cleared on the line by a combination of Brown and Sean Ward who smashed the ball away to safety.

The Coleraine pressure would then grow as the Stripes hit the crossbar through Lynch’s piledriver. The ball came down and bounced on the goal line, however, the officials ruled that it didn’t cross the line and therefore no goal was given.

Three minutes later, all of Coleraine’s dominance finally paid off as McKendry cut in from right wing and hit a thunderous strike beyond Brown’s reach into the top corner from the edge of the box.

With 76 minutes on the clock, Shevlin went on a solo run after he intercepted the ball, broke Glenavon’s defensive line, but he was unable to capitalize on their mistake as his shot was straight at Brown who held the ball well.

With 88 minutes played, a piece of absolute brilliance from Shevlin made the score line 3-1 to the Bannsiders. Danny Wallace the Glenavon captain and defender did everything he could to stop Shevlin, but the striker was undeterred as he spun his marker and placed the ball into the bottom corner.

In the final action of the game, McKendry’s brace made the score line 4-1 to Coleraine. Conor showed a bit of magic as he drove into the box and dispatched the ball under a diving Brown.

After that much improved second half performance, the Bannsiders now turn their attention to the fixture away to Newry City at The Showgrounds next Friday night.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, D. Jarvis, McKendry, Shevlin (A. Jarvis ’90 mins), Carson, Lynch, Cole, O’Mahony (Harkin ’67 mins), Wallace, Scott (Mitchell ’90 mins).

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), McDaid, Farren, Devine.

GLENAVON: Brown, Kerr (Nesbitt ’61 mins), Snoddy, Malone, Campbell (Mulvenna ’61 mins), Quinn, Baird, Teggart, Prendergast (Henderson ’74 mins), Wallace, Ward.

Subs Not Used: Purvis (GK), Davidson, Harvey.

Referee:

Raymond Crangle

Highlights:

HERE