Last Time Out

COLERAINE and Linfield would finalise their Danske Bank Premiership campaigns the last time the two sides clashed at The Showgrounds…

Date:

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Result:

Coleraine 1-1 Linfield

Goals – Davidson (’34 mins), Reynolds (’88 mins)

Report:

Coleraine and Linfield concluded their Danske Bank Premiership campaigns with an entertaining 1-1 draw at The Showgrounds.

The Bannsiders looked to have won all three points courtesy of Dylan Davidson’s first goal in Coleraine colours, but Linfield found an equaliser late on as Daniel Reynolds found the back of the net with a crisp half volley.

In a slow start at The Showgrounds, the first real chance went the way of the home side as Cormac Burke dribbled and sent in a dangerous cross, but neither Ian Parkhill or Dylan Davidson could get a meaningful touch onto the ball. On 17 minutes, it was almost a case of deja-vu as Burke’s cross from the right was powered wide by Davidson.

The Stripes would squander a glorious opportunity on 20 minutes as a long, surging run from Jamie Glackin resulted in the ball landing to Parkhill inside the area, but the Ballymoney man failed to hit the target. Nine minutes later, Parkhill would threaten once again as he forced Conor Mitchell into a save after latching onto Mark Edgar’s delivery.

However, the deadlock was broken on 34 minutes and in fine style as Davidson robbed his marker before rocketing home from 25 yards with an unstoppable effort – his first for the club since joining from Glentoran in the January transfer window.

Rodney McAree’s men were on the ascendancy and wanted to grab a vital second and had chances through Burke, Ben Doherty and Davidson, but they all failed to find the back of the net before the half-time whistle.

Linfield almost grabbed an equaliser inside the first minute of the second-half as he got onto the end of a through ball but he could only fire straight into the body of Chris Johns. At the other end, Johns nearly turned into a goal provider as his long ball released the run of Parkhill but his lobbed effort sailed over the crossbar.

On 69 minutes, the Bannsiders blew a sigh of relief as Linfield striker Brandon Doyle missed from four yards out. The hosts nearly strengthened their lead via an unlikely source as Graham Crown forced Mitchell into a smart save, with Doherty drilling an effort wide moments later.

After Parkhill went inches away from doubling the Stripes’ lead, the crossbar was shaking on 80 minutes as Doherty’s inswinging corner kick was met by the head of Linfield defender Jimmy Callacher who almost directed the ball into his own net.

On 83 minutes, David Healy’s men should have drew level as Marek Cervenka burst into the box and he squared for Reynolds who somehow couldn’t convert from close range. However, Reynolds wouldn’t make the same mistake five minutes later as he executed a well hit half volley that sailed into the net.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Johns, Crown, O’Donnell, Parkhill, Canning, Doherty (J. Bradley ’84 mins), Burke, Edgar, Davidson (E. Bradley ’65 mins), King, Glackin (Wan ’70 mins).

Subs Not Used: Doherty (GK), Douglas, McConaghie, Boorman.

LINFIELD: Mitchell, Neilsen (Cooper ’78 mins), Callacher, Forde (Allen ’82 mins), Clarke, McGuinness, McClean, Doyle (Corbett ’78 mins), Reynolds, Cervenka, Hume.

Subs Not Used: Deane (GK), Millar, A. Mitchell, Quinn.

Referee:

Arnold Hunter