A youthful Coleraine Women Reserves played out a deserved 2-2 draw against Antrim Town Swifts yesterday…
Coleraine started this tough fixture in really warm conditions sticking to the commitment of developing youth, with no less than seven teenage players being involved.
The Bannsiders started very brightly and had chances through Faye Colley and a header from Emma Diamond, which almost broke the deadlock.
Antrim’s pacy attack allowed them to open the scoring after 20 minutes but the young guns battled hard to equalise as a pin-point corner from Colley was clinically dispatched by Norah McCullough.
The second half saw Coleraine press hard and new signing Katie Agnew showed good creativity without really getting a clearcut opening.
However, good work by the two Katie’s – Miskimmon and Agnew – provided the opportunity for Kelly Bolton to put the Bannsiders ahead with ten minutes remaining.
Antrim to their credit battled hard and a goalmouth scramble was smashed home to give the hosts a late share of the spoils.
Our makeshift goalkeeper Kyla McGivern was inspired and her presence helped throughout the game.
Speaking after the fixture, manager Gareth Scott said: “You have to come out of your comfort zone to truly grow and today was a real heavy baptism for the kids who stood up well in really difficult conditions and could have edged the win.
“Simon Moore and Michael Gray are driving the ethos of bringing through the kids in the youth set up here at Coleraine.
“It was a hard-earned point but a well-deserved one.”
