Last Time Out

BEN Doherty hit a brace of penalties as the Bannsiders sealed a 2-0 win against Portadown back in March…

Date:

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Result:

Coleraine 2-0 Portadown

Goals – Doherty (’17 & ’80 mins)

Report:

COLERAINE march on as a brace of penalties from Ben Doherty sealed all three points against Portadown.

The Bannsiders took their unbeaten run to 13 games at the expense of Portadown on Tuesday evening.

Ben Doherty’s double – a penalty in each half – means Oran Kearney’s outfit sit just two points behind leaders Linfield after their defeat by Glentoran.

The home side looked lively in the opening stages at The Showgrounds.

Aaron Jarvis smashed a long range shot wide after just sixty seconds from Curtis Allen’s lay off, before the striker was then set up Matthew Shevlin after nine minutes.

Ben Doherty was next to try his luck when he sprinted into the box but fired wide. However, the midfielder made no mistake as Coleraine were awarded a penalty by referee Ross Dunlop after 16 minutes.

The decision appeared harsh as Greg Hall was penalised for handling Allen’s shot but Doherty took full advantage to clinically despatch the spot kick.

Rather than kick on from the positive start, it was Portadown who then took a grip on the game.

Having waited until the 19th minute for their first attempt on goal from Adam Salley, the visitors put the Bannsiders under pressure and created several good opportunities. Lee Bonis should have done better after 22 minutes but was off target.

He then tested Gareth Deane from long range after 34 minutes. The ‘keeper was unable to hold his shot but with the goal at his mercy Salley somehow bundled the ball past the post.

And Salley – on target on his last visit to the Showgrounds – was sent clear by Ben Tilney on 37 minutes but Deane read the danger and advanced from his area to make a timely interception.

Neither side carved out too many clear cut chances as Coleraine began to regain control in the second period.

A Shevlin header from Doherty’s cross was saved by Jacob Carney seven minutes after the restart.

Then substitutes Jamie Glackin and Eoin Bradley combined, with Glackin’s attempted cross striking the woodwork.

It was Bradley who helped Coleraine secure the points ten minutes from time when he was pulled back by Hall inside the box.

Unlike the first penalty, there was no doubt about this decision…nor the end result as Doherty again made no mistake.

Lyndon Kane had a chance in injury time to add a third after latching onto Adam McCallum’s backpass but Carney made a good stop.

This was Coleraine’s fifth game in just 15 days and they were forced to grind out another hard earned win.

But all that matters is pocketing three points and putting pressure on Linfield.

Mission accomplished!

Line-ups:

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Canning, Jarvis, Doherty (Wilson ’85 mins), Lowry, Carson, Parkhill, Allen (Bradley ’62 mins), Beverland, Shevlin (Glackin ’54 mins).

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Douglas, Tweed, Nixon.

PORTADOWN: Carney, Hall, McCallum, Finnegan, McKeown, Salley (Murray ’74 mins), Bonis, Wilson (Tipton ’85 mins), Conaty, Healy (Lavery ’81 mins), Tilney.

Subs Not Used: Buchanan (GK), Croskery, Teggart, Kerr.

Referee:

Ross Dunlop

Highlights:

HERE