Last Time Out

AFTER going seventeen matches unbeaten, the Bannsiders would succumb to their first defeat as Cliftonville scored in either half to record a success at Solitude…

Date:

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Result:

Cliftonville 2-1 Coleraine

Goals – Harney (’43 mins), O’Neill (’62 mins); Doherty (’67 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE fell to their first defeat in 17 matches as they were beaten by Cliftonville at Solitude…

It had to happen eventually and unfortunately today was that day!

After going 17 games unbeaten, Coleraine suffered defeat this afternoon at Solitude.

And to rub salt into the wounds, Eoin Bradley was sent off – meaning he is ruled out of Tuesday’s meeting with Larne.

Despite a fast paced opening, neither ‘keeper had a lot to do during the first 45 minutes.

Gareth Deane was called into action after eight minutes as he pushed Paul O’Neill’s shot around the post.

A sliced clearance from Jamie Harney provided Coleraine with their first meaningful effort on 14 minutes but Ryan O’Reilly took the sting out of Eoin Bradley’s shot and Aaron McCarey saved.

The Bannsiders carved out another opening two minutes later. Aaron Canning broke down the wing and fed Bradley but his flick across goal was cleared by Kris Lowe, with Curtis Allen waiting to pounce.

Deane was forced to scramble across his area on 32 minutes when the impressive Rory Hale went for goal from long range but his effort deflected off Canning and past the post.

Coleraine tried to take advantage of a poor punch by McCarey from Josh Carson’s 39th minute cross, which rebounded off Daniel Kearns to Bradley, but he was unable to find the target.

With just two minutes of the first half remaining, Cliftonville drew first blood.

Aaron Donnelly’s long range cross was inch perfect and Harney ran in at the back post to steer a header into the roof of the net.

Coleraine had a great chance to level on the hour mark when Ben Doherty’s free kick picked out Stephen O’Donnell who could only head the ball straight at McCarey from close range.

And Cliftonville took full advantage by doubling their advantage two minutes later.

Ryan O’Reilly nodded Hale’s corner into the danger area and O’Neill reacted quickest to turn and fire home despite Carson’s attempts to clear.

The visitors were handed a path back into the contest when Harney clipped Bradley inside the box and Doherty lashed home a 67th minute penalty.

But with a quarter of an hour remaining, Bradley’s day came to a premature end when he was sent off.

Referee Shane Andrews branded a second yellow card following a challenge on O’Reilly… to go with a first half card for an off the ball tussle with Harney.

Canning almost salvaged an unlikely point deep in injury time but he drilled a shot narrowly wide from a tight angle.

Line-ups:

CLIFTONVILLE: McCarey, O’Reilly, Harney, O’Connor (Doherty ’67 mins), R.Curran, Donnelly, Bagnall, Hale, Lowe, Kearns (McCrudden ’79 mins), O’Neill.

Subs Not Used: Breen (GK), Breen, Casey, Teggart, Coffey.

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Canning, Jarvis (McLaughlin ’79 mins), Doherty, Lowry, Bradley, Carson, O’Donnell, Glackin, Allen (Shevlin ’55 mins)

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Wilson, Tweed, Parkhill, Beverland.

Referee:

Shane Andrews

Highlights:

HERE