Last Time Out

Last Time Out

JAMES McLaughlin would hit the 50 goal mark for Coleraine as they were 4-0 victors against Glenavon back in November…

Date:

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Result:

Coleraine 4-0 Glenavon

Goals – McLaughlin (’10 mins, ’44 mins, ’63 mins), Doherty (’77 mins)

Report:

JAMES McLaughlin bagged his fiftieth goal for the Bannsiders as Coleraine remain a point clear at the top of the league following a 4-0 home victory against Glenavon…

A hat-trick from McLaughlin and a Ben Doherty penalty keeps the Bannsiders’ unbeaten start to the 2019/20 Danske Bank Premiership campaign in-tact.

Glenavon enjoyed a couple of half chances early doors as Jordan Jenkins looked to put the visitors ahead but to no avail.

Inside the opening ten minutes, Coleraine found themselves ahead, somewhat against the run of play, via James McLaughlin who headed home from Ben Doherty’s header, with the ball seemingly taking a deflection off Caolan Marron en route to the goal.

Moments later, McLaughlin was in the thick of the action once again as his strike from the edge of the box was gathered by Glenavon stopper James Taylor at the second attempt. At the other end, Andrew Mitchell looked to level the scores before the half hour mark, however, he blazed Aaron Harmon’s cutback over the crossbar when well placed inside the penalty area.

Gary Hamilton’s men looked to have levelled before the interval as Harmon’s cross took a wicked deflection off Aaron Traynor before crashing off the crossbar. Kyle Beggs flicked the ball back towards goal but his effort was saved by Chris Johns, before falling at the feet of Andrew Mitchell who was deemed to be offside.

Eoin Bradley had the ball in the net for Coleraine’s second of the match but the goal was ruled out for offside. In the build-up, James McLaughlin was hacked down after a strong challenge from Daniel Larmour. In bizarre circumstances, referee Arnold Hunter ruled out Bradley’s effort for offside, before awarding Coleraine a free-kick and dismissing Larmour for his earlier challenge, a catalogue of decisions which left many supporters astounded.

McLaughlin bagged the Bannsiders’ second before the break as he was on hand to guide the ball into the net after being set-up by Bradley. The goal proved a crucial development in the game which ultimately signalled a long way back for Glenavon, who had been the better side for large parts of the first-half.

Ben Doherty looked to extend Coleraine’s lead after the restart but his curling effort sailed wide. Moments later, Aaron Jarvis rattled the crossbar with an excellent effort after the hour mark. The midfielder was afforded time and space outside the box and he throttled an effort from outside the area which cannoned off the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Superb link-up play between Jamie Glackin and James McLaughlin handed the Bannsiders their third of the afternoon. Initially, Glackin slipped the deadly frontman in on goal and McLaughlin made no mistake with the finish rolling home a left-footed strike, from an acute angle, inside the box to complete his hat-trick.

Robert Garrett looked to reduce the deficit shortly after but the former Linfield midfielder drilled his effort straight down the throat of Chris Johns.

Ben Doherty clinched Coleraine’s fourth from the penalty spot on 76 minutes as both Bradley and Nedas Maciulaitis were fouled inside the area in two separate challenges a split-second apart. Doherty, who joined the Bannsiders after a loan spell at Glenavon last January, fired his effort low into the bottom corner leaving Taylor beaten all ends up for his 13th goal of the season.

Emmett McGuckin, Glackin and Doherty all had chances in the closing stages of the match but in the end it proved a perfect afternoon for the Stripes who strolled to victory against the Lurgan Blues.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Johns, Kane, Canning, Douglas, Jarvis (Parkhill ‘69 mins), Doherty, Lowry, McLaughlin (Maciulaitis ‘69 mins), Bradley (McGuckin ‘78 mins), Glackin, Traynor.

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), McConaghie, Gawne, Whiteside.

GLENAVON: Taylor, Larmour, Burns, Marron, Doyle, (Wearen ’64 mins), Marshall, Mitchell, Harmon, Beggs (McCloskey ‘62 mins), Garrett (Daniels ’72 mins), Jenkins.

Subs Not Used: Barr, Murray, Hunter, Hamilton.

Referee:

Arnold Hunter

Highlights:

HERE