Coleraine hold on for derby point after early Bradley dismissal
All-square at the Showgrounds
Rodney McAree is still searching for his first win as Coleraine boss – after a derby stalemate at the Showgrounds last night (Tuesday).
It was to be a positive night for the Bannsiders as they escaped with a point despite being reduced to 10 men for 75 minutes.
The visitors started the brighter as Ryan Mayse threatened inside the opening minute.
United continued their aggressive start and were almost rewarded moments later. A defensive mix-up forced veteran defender Stephen Douglas to clear but his effort ricocheted off Mayse forcing Chris Johns into action to prevent a goal.
Tony Kane gave United the lead on 7 minutes after a neat lay-off from Leroy Millar found the advancing midfielder who fired his left-footed effort into the top corner.
Coleraine were to be dealt a further blow on 16 minutes when striker Eoin Bradley was dismissed. The striker seemed to punch Jim Ervin in the abdomen after Ian McNabb awarded a free-kick in Coleraine’s favour.
Despite being reduced to ten men the Bannsiders responded in spectacular style via Darren McCauley. The winger picked the ball up from deep and went on a powerful run before keeping his composure to fire the ball into the back o f the net from 20 yards.
Ballymena regained the advantage midway through the first-half as Andy McGrory fired low into the bottom corner. Initially, McMurray forced a spectacular save from Johns but the stopper could do nothing about the follow up.
United could have went further in front before the interval when McMurray pounced on Stephen O’Donnell’s backward header before dinking the ball over the head of Johns. With goal in his sight it looked all but over but the striker dragged wide.
The Bannsiders had no answer for United’s unrelenting pressure and failed to hit the heights that they have become accustomed too in recent seasons. David Jeffrey’s men were worthy of their lead at the break with a huge performance needed for McAree’s men as they looked to salvage a point.
The second half was a rather lacklustre one in comparison to the first. Ballymena had a shout for a penalty waved away as Adam Lecky went down inside the area. Tony Kane had an opportunity from a free kick from outside the area but his effort sailed over.
With little to report by way of chances, Coleraine responded as Jamie McGonigle’s strike crashed off the cross bar. The strike produced some neat footwork to carve out the opportunity amidst pressure from the United defence.
Just as it looked all but over, the Bannsiders battled back and grabbed their equaliser. Defender Stephen O’Donnell strolled forward and leaped to head home McCauley’s pinpoint delivery.
The game petered out as both teams enjoyed a share of the spoils meaning the Bannsiders have not been beaten at home since April 2017 whilst United have failed to muster a win against their derby rivals since December 2016.
COLERAINE FC: Johns, Harkin, Douglas (Crown ‘62), McCauley, Lowry, Bradley, Burns, O’Donnell (c), Traynor (Parkhill ’77), McGonigle (McLaughlin ‘89), Canning
SUBS NOT USED: Doherty, Mullan, Gawne, Owens
BALLYMENA UNITED: Glendinning, Kane (Knowles ‘80), Addis, Whiteside, Mayse (Faulkner, ‘74), McCullough (Winchester ‘54), McGrory, Ervin (c), Lecky, Miller, McMurray
SUBS NOT USED: McDermott, Friel, Balmer, Glendinning
Referee: Ian McNabb