Last Time Out

COLERAINE would end the decade with a home draw against Linfield as Aaron Canning’s header cancelled out Stephen Fallon’s first-half strike…

Date:

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Result:

Coleraine 1-1 Linfield

Goals – Canning (’54 mins); Fallon (’12 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE remain well-positioned in the Danske Bank Premiership heading into the New Year after a fiercely contested match with Linfield ended in a 1-1 draw at The Showgrounds…

Stephen Fallon broke the deadlock for Linfield before Aaron Canning pulled The Stripes level in the second half. Coleraine had enough chances to win the game but had to settle for a share of the spoils at the final whistle.

The opening chance of the match fell to the visitors as Kirk Millar’s corner caused problems before eventually being cleared off the line by a Coleraine defender.

Stephen Fallon and Shayne Lavery also tried their luck from distance in the opening ten minutes but both players failed to hit the target.

Coleraine responded via Josh Carson as he latched onto an expertly timed cross-field pass from Aaron Canning but his shot at goal flashed over the crossbar.

Linfield took the lead in dramatic fashion via Stephen Fallon on 12 minutes. The midfielder picked the ball up in acres of space before striking an effort towards goal from all of 30 yards which rippled in the back of the net.

Coleraine appealed for a penalty midway through the first half as Ben Doherty and Jamie Glackin combined on the edge of the box. Glackin eventually broke through into the box before going down in the middle of a crowd of Linfield players but referee Shane Andrews waved away the appeal.

James McLaughlin had a golden opportunity to level the scores before the half-time whistle as he got on the end of Lyndon Kane’s low cross but was unable to hit the target when well placed inside the penalty area.

At the break, Linfield were ahead thanks to a spectacular effort from Stephen Fallon. However, there was little to report by way of chances as Coleraine manager Oran Kearney would have felt slightly frustrated that his side were trailing at the break having enjoyed a lot of possession in the opening exchanges.

The Bannsiders looked to have pulled level at the start of the second half as McLaughlin struck James McLaughlin’s effort towards goal but the ball was cleared off the line by Blues’ midfielder Stephen Fallon.

Coleraine continued to mount the pressure and their efforts were rewarded moments later as Aaron Canning stabbed home on 54 minutes from inside the penalty area after a great delivery from Ben Doherty’s corner kick.

Oran Kearney was forced to shuffle the pack shortly after the hour mark as midfielder Ben Doherty was replaced by Ian Parkhill after Doherty, who assisted Coleraine’s goal, suffered a hamstring injury.

Eoin Bradley found himself through on goal on 71 minutes as he picked up Aaron Traynor’s pass over the top. After beating his man, Bradley pulled the trigger but Mark Stafford recovered well to put in a decisive block.

Linfield were reduced to ten men moments later as Ryan McGivern was dismissed after he picked up a second yellow card following a challenge on Ian Parkhill.

Minutes later, Coleraine felt slightly aggrieved that Rohan Ferguson stayed on the pitch after he wiped out James McLaughlin on 76 minutes when the striker was bearing down on goal. The striker regrouped to hit the free-kick into the wall before firing the rebound narrowly over the crossbar.

The game was wide open at this point as Linfield had a great chance to take the lead via Kirk Millar as the ball broke to the winger inside the penalty area but Chris Johns was on hand to make the save.

The Bannsiders had the best chance to win the game in injury time as Eoin Bradley held the ball up inside the penalty area before finding Glackin who laid the ball off to James McLaughlin but he was unable to find the net from a great position meaning the scores finished level.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Johns, Kane, Canning, Doherty (Parkhill ‘62 mins), Lowry, McLaughlin, Bradley, Carson, McConaghie, Glackin, Traynor.

Subs Not Used: Doherty (GK), O’Donnell, Gawne, McGuckin, Maciulaitis, Nevin.

LINFIELD: Ferguson, Stafford, Callacher, Waterworth, Shevlin (Clarke ‘74 mins), Millar, Lavery (Stewart ‘85 mins), Fallon (Hery ‘78 mins), Mulgrew, McGivern, Casement.

Subs Not Used: Moore (GK), Kearns, Mitchell, Reynolds.

Referee:

Shane Andrews

Highlights:

HERE