Last Time Out

BEN Doherty would score two spot kicks as Coleraine registered all three points against Crusaders in October…

Date:

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Result:

Crusaders 0-2 Coleraine

Goals – Doherty (’17 mins & ’90 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE moved top of the Danske Bank Premiership on goal difference as a spot-kick double by Ben Doherty sealed a 2-0 win over Crusaders…

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney made one change to his starting eleven as Aaron Jarvis returned to the midfield at the expense of Nedas Maciulaitis. This allowed Jamie Glackin to partner Eoin Bradley upfront.

The home side made a bright start and threatened after six minutes as the ball was spread out to Sean Ward. The full-back went forward with the ball and his cross met Declan Caddell but his header sailed harmlessly wide. Minutes later, Paul Heatley seized upon a poor touch by Lyndon Kane but failed to keep his effort on target.

However, from their first real venture forward, the visitors were awarded a penalty as Bradley rolled Chris Hegarty inside the box and the defender brought him down. Doherty stepped forward and hit a crisp effort into the bottom corner on 17 minutes.

The Stripes nearly doubled their lead on 23 minutes as Bradley teed up Josh Carson at the edge of the area but his daisy cutter sailed wide. At the other end, Chris Johns was called into action to deny David Cushley’s well hit free-kick.

The last meaningful chance of the opening 45 minutes would fall to Coleraine as Doherty stepped forward with the ball and his 30-yard effort forced a smart stop from Gerard Doherty.

Oran Kearney’s side would go close on 52 minutes as Bradley’s free-kick deflected into the path of Doherty but the midfielder’s strike failed to trouble the Crusaders goal. Three minutes later, there would be another chance for the visitors as Jamie Glackin robbed the Crusaders defence and squared the ball to Aaron Jarvis who arrowed over.

Crusaders brought on Jamie McGonigle and Paul McElroy in a bid to find an equaliser and it almost paid dividends on 73 minutes as Heatley’s cut back found McElroy at the edge of the box, but Johns was on hand to deny the former Dungannon Swifts winger.

Jamie Glackin – who scored in the reverse fixture back in September – went close to bagging against his former club on 78 minutes as his initial effort was saved by the legs of Doherty, with the ‘keeper showing incredible reactions to deny the rebound.

In a frantic finish to proceedings, Crusaders would threaten as a smart turn and shot by McElroy sailed over the crossbar, with Bradley going close at the other end as he made a lung busting run from his own half.

However, Coleraine would seal all three points on 90 minutes as Doherty was brought down inside the area by Jordan Forsythe giving the Bannsiders a second penalty of the afternoon. The end result would be the exact same as the first as Doherty successfully converted from the spot.

Line-ups:

CRUSADERS: Doherty, Hegarty (K. Owens ’46 mins), Coates, Ward, Hale, Cushley (McElroy ’70 mins), Caddell (McGonigle ’58 mins), Forsythe, O’Rourke, Heatley, Clarke.

Subs Not Used: O’Neill (GK), Beverland, Thompson, McGinley.

COLERAINE: Johns, Kane, Mullan, Canning, Jarvis, Doherty, Lowry, Bradley (McLaughlin ’90+4 mins), Carson, Glackin (’84 mins), Traynor.

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

Referee:

Tim Marshall

Highlights:

HERE