Tough day at the office for Coleraine but win puts them eight points clear
Mallards put up fine performance but denied by Bannsiders' double
By Aaron O’Neill
Coleraine had the first meaningful chance of the game. Jamie McGonigle controlled Darren McCauley’s cross inside the area before letting fly but his effort was well stopped by Richard Brush.
Moments later Brush was called into action again to deny the lively McGonigle, his neat turn and shot from the edge of the area was tipped round the post by the Ballinamallard goalkeeper.
Coleraine had a claim for a penalty turned away on 23 minutes. Jamie McGonigle went down inside the area but referee Jamie Robinson had a different opinion from that of the home side.
Ballinamallard rarely threatened during the first-half, much to the frustration of the home-side. The Bannsiders threatened time after time but failed to break down Gavin Dykes’ men.
Aaron Traynor should have given Oran Kearney’s side the lead on the stroke of half-time. The full-back got on the end of Ian Parkhill’s cross but couldn’t manage to find the back of the net.
As the half-time whistle sounded the scores were level with the league leaders struggling against a well organised Ballinamallard side.
Coleraine seemed to be inspired by Oran Kearney’s half-time team-talk. The Bannsiders grabbed the lead on 50 minutes via a Colm McLoughlin own goal. The Ballinamallard defender turned Jamie McGonigle’s low shot into his own net - much to the relief of the home side.
The stripes doubled their lead moments later. Joe McCready latched onto Carson’s neat through ball and the striker made no mistake, firing the ball low into the back of the net beyond the clutches of Richard Brush.
Oran Kearney’s side looked to have gone further in front on 70 minutes. Jamie McGonigle’s left footed drive looked destined for the back of the net only to be denied by Brush.
Ballinamallard pulled a goal back moments later when Matthew Smyth nodded home from a well delivered Richard Clarke free-kick.
The Bannsiders responded immediately but could not extend their advantage as Josh Carson and Darren McCauley had two quick fire efforts blocked on the line.
Gavin Dyke’s side searched for their equaliser in the closing stages of the game but to no avail.
Jamie McGonigle looked to have put the game to bed on 88 minutes but his effort was saved by the legs of Richard Brush.
Ryan Curran had a great chance to level proceedings with just moments remaining but he blazed his effort over the bar.
Coleraine held-on for the win stretching their unbeaten run to 13 games and 8 points in front of closest title challengers Glenavon.
UNUSED SUBS: Douglas, Kee,
COLERAINE FC: Johns, Mullan, Harkin, Ogilby, McCauley, Carson, O’Donnell (‘67, McConaghie) Parkhill (‘77, Whiteside) Traynor, McGonigle, McCready (‘81, Smith)
BALLINAMALLARD UNITED: Brush, Smyth, Taheny (‘67, McKenna) McLoughlin, Armstrong (‘81, Martyn) Owens, Hutchinson (‘32, Burns) Clarke, McGinty, Curran, McIlwaine
UNUSED SUBS: McCann, Brownlee (GK)