Coleraine miss out on top spot after sharing the spoils at Showgrounds
Bannsiders let two-goal lead slip against Linfield
By Aaron O’Neill
Both sides made changes ahead of Tuesday night’s game at the Showgrounds. Coleraine manager Oran Kearney was without the services of injured duo Brad Lyons and Stephen Dooley.
Linfield made two changes from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Ballymena as Chris Casement and Gareth Deane came in to replace Mark Haughey and Roy Carroll.
Coleraine started the brighter as Eoin Bradley and ex-Linfield man Josh Carson threatened inside the opening 10 minutes.
Darren McCauley was the next to try his luck but his curling effort was saved by Deane.
Linfield’s only half chance of the opening exchanges fell to Kirk Millar as he latched onto a poor clearance from Chris Johns but failed to find the target from distance.
Coleraine looked to have grabbed the lead on 25 minutes. Jamie McGonigle climbed highest to divert Ciaron Harkin’s cross towards goal but the striker’s effort was denied by some superb goalkeeping by Gareth Deane.
Moments later Coleraine were ahead via Jamie McGonigle’s strike. Some clever build-up play between Carson and Bradley released McGonigle - who made no mistake from close range.
The home side dominated the first-half but failed to extend the advantage even further as McGonigle and Carson went close.
David Healy would have been disappointed at the half-time break as his side failed to create any meaningful chance in the opening exchanges.
Linfield opted for change early in the second-half as they searched for an in-road back into the game. David Healy introduced Stephen Lowry and Ryan Strain as the Blues looked for an equaliser.
Andy Waterworth looked to have levelled the tie on 68 minutes. The striker latched onto Chris Casements cross but his low drive was turned behind by Chris Johns.
Eoin Bradley looked to have doubled Coleraine’s lead on 73 minutes but his turn and shot was saved by Deane.
Coleraine’s persistence paid off as they extended their lead on 77 minutes. Darren McCauley slipped Ian Parkhill through on goal and the forward made no mistake in slotting home from close range to bag his sixth goal of the season.
Linfield responded on 86 minutes after Waterworth steered Niall Quinn’s pinpoint cross beyond the clutches of Johns and into the back of the net.
The late fight back continued as Linfield grabbed an equaliser. Stephen Lowry’s free-kick came crashing off the crossbar before ricocheting off Chris Johns and into the back of the net.
Coleraine would have gone back to the top of the table with a win. The result sees them remain second on goal difference, but with an extra game played, after a spirited comeback by David Healy’s side. The result means Linfield stay fifth in the Danske Bank Premiership just a point behind Cliftonville.
COLERAINE FC: Johns, Kane, McCauley, Smith, Bradley, Carson, McConaghie, Harkin, O’Donnell, Traynor, McGonigle (Parkhill ‘70)
SUBS: Mullan, Douglas, Kirk, Ogilby,
LINFIELD FC: Deane, Stafford, Callacher, Waterworth, Stewart, Millar (Rooney ‘74), Byrne (Strain ‘53), Casement, Mulgrew, Mitchell (Lowry ’52), Quinn
SUBS: Robinson, Rooney, Garrett,