Last Time Out

COLERAINE would make the perfect start to 2020 as Aaron Traynor and Alexander Gawne netted in a 2-0 success at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena…

Date:

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Result:

Carrick Rangers 0-2 Coleraine

Goals – Traynor (’11 mins), Gawne (’84 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE made a winning start to the New Year as goals from Aaron Traynor and Alexander Gawne sealed a 2-0 win at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena.

Goals from Aaron Traynor and Alexander Gawne secured the win for The Stripes. It won’t be remembered as an Irish League classic, however, the Bannsiders got the job done and emerged with all three points.

Oran Kearney made four changes from the side that drew with Linfield. James McLaughlin, Ben Doherty, Stephen Lowry and Eoin Bradley all made way as Nedas Maciulaitis, Stephen O’Donnell, Ian Parkhill and Emmet McGuckin enjoyed starts for the Bannsiders.

The home side started the brighter as they enjoyed the best of the possession in the opening ten minutes.

Coleraine regrouped as Nedas Maciulaitis threatened before Aaron Traynor gave the Bannsiders the lead on 11 minutes. A long throw-in caused problems for the Carrick defence as Emmett McGuckin flicked the ball across goal allowing the full-back to poke the ball into the top corner against his former club for the second time this season.

Niall Currie’s side looked to pull level on 18 minutes as defender Chris Rodgers tried his luck from the edge of the area after the ball broke to him from a corner. His strike ricocheted off a group of players before eventually being hooked clear by Stephen O’Donnell.

Carrick threatened before the half hour mark as a great pass found Lee Chapman in space down the right wing but his cross into the box evaded the touch of an attacker at the back post.

Moments later, the home side were dealt a blow as Chapman, who looked lively in the opening half hour, limped off to be replaced by Mark Carson.

At the break Coleraine were ahead thanks to Traynor’s early strike. Carrick rarely troubled Chris Johns despite enjoying some neat passages of play in the opening 45 minutes. However, both managers would be well aware that the second goal in the game was crucial.

Coleraine were awarded a penalty five minutes into the second half as Stephen O’Donnell was hauled down inside the penalty area. Josh Carson stepped up to hit the spot kick but he was unable to beat Liam McAuley from 12 yards.

Carrick’s Stewart Nixon showed a flash of brilliance to beat Aaron Traynor in the corner before driving into the box and finding William Faulkner. The midfieder struck from the edge of the box but his effort was blocked by Lyndon Kane.

Chris Johns produced an excellent save on 66 minutes to keep the Bannsiders ahead. The stopper leaped to his right to tip Faulkner’s effort from the edge of the box around the post.

That wasn’t to be the last of the action at the Loughshore Hotel Arena as second half substitute Alexander Gawne pounced in the closing minutes of the game to double Coleraine’s lead. Initially, Ian Parkhill was put through on goal, forcing a save from McAuley before the ball broke to Gawne who made no mistake with the finish from close range.

Niall Currie’s men almost pulled a goal back in dramatic fashion as Mark Carson’s left-footed cross from the right flank curled all the way to the back post, striking the upright before being cleared to safety.

Line-ups:

CARRICK RANGERS: McAuley, Neale, Surgenor, Rodgers, Loughran, Chapman (Carson ’36 mins), Faulkner, D.Kelly, Nixon, Smith (Keke ’65 mins), Anderson (Hassin ’73 mins).

Subs Not Used: Nicholl (GK), Magill, Doyle, McGreevy.

COLERAINE: Johns, Kane, Canning, Carson, McConaghie, O’Donnell, Parkhill, Glackin (Nevin ’80 mins), Traynor, McGuckin (Bradley ’76 mins), Maciulaitis (Gawne ’65 mins).

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Douglas.

Referee:

Keith Kennedy

Highlights:

HERE