Last Time Out

Last Time Out

COLERAINE and Glenavon would draw for the third time in the 2019/20 campaign as the woodwork twice denied the Bannsiders back in April…

Date:

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Result:

Coleraine 0-0 Glenavon

Report:

COLERAINE suffered a setback at The Showgrounds this afternoon as they were held to a third draw of the season by Glenavon.

Luck deserted the Bannsiders as they were twice denied victory by the woodwork.

For all their efforts in a much improved second half performance, they were unable to find a way past the dogged Mourneview men.

The home side struggled to get a foothold in the contest initially.

But despite Glenavon’s bright start, they posed few problems – Andy Hall’s second minute free kick which Gareth Deane safely gathered – their best effort in the opening exchanges.

The Bannsiders missed the industry and invention of injured duo Jamie Glackin and Ben Doherty.

It was 24 minutes before they had their first shot on target. Josh Carson did well to shrug off a couple of challenges but his long range shot lacked power to trouble Craig Hyland.

Coleraine survived a scare after 29 minutes when Hall got on the end of Peter Campbell’s teasing cross, but his claims that the ball had crossed the line before Dean’s save were dismissed by referee Tim Marshall.

At the other end Ian Parkhill tried his luck, as the home side struggled to find any fluency.

Glenavon were thwarted again by Deane at the front post after 33 minutes as he kept out Matthew Snoddy after Fitzpatrick set him up.

Manager Oran Kearney’s words at the interval had the desired effect as his troops displayed much more intensity in their play after the restart.

It took a great stop from Hyland within two minutes to keep out Carson’s deflected drive .

Then James McLaughlin looped a header over the top as Coleraine showed more attacking threat.

Only the woodwork denied Coleraine a crucial opener after 64 minutes as they stepped up the pressure.

Substitute Eoin Bradley’s free kick struck the post and struck Allen before being  smothered by a relieved Hyland.

It was the turn of another substitute, Matthew Shevlin, to then sting the palms of Hyland on 69 minutes.

Lady Luck certainly wasn’t shining on the Stripes when the post once again came to Glenavon’s rescue.

Stevie Lowry released Stewart Nixon and his first contribution after coming off the bench was to fire in a low 74th minute drive which bounced back off the far post.

The Lurgan Blues had a great chance to open the scoring against the run of play two minutes later but Owen Taylor rushed his shot and sliced wide.

Then Sean Ward was in the right place to hook Carson’s 78th minutes goalbound lob clear after Bradley’s clever through ball.

The final opportunity on a frustrating day was a Bradley free kick which sailed narrowly wide.

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Canning, Lowry, McLaughlin (Bradley ’54 mins), Carson, Tweed, O’Donnell, Parkhill (Shevlin ’66 mins), Traynor, Allen (Nixon ’73 mins).

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

GLENAVON: Hyland, Coates, A. Doyle (Harmon ’69 mins), Campbell (Taylor ’62 mins), Hall (Purkis ’40 mins), Moorhouse, Snoddy, Fitzpatrick, Singleton, Garrett, Ward.

Subs Not Used: Norton, Douglas, J. Doyle, McCaffrey.

Referee:

Tim Marshall

Highlights:

HERE