Linfield victory ends Coleraine’s unbeaten run

By Aaron O'Neill

David Healy would have demanded a reaction from his players and he got just that as his side ran out 2-1 winners over Coleraine.

It was the home side who started the brighter as Chris Casement and Mark Stafford had chances inside the opening 10 minutes.

David Healy’s side gained the advantage on 19 minutes when Andy Waterworth calmly fired a penalty past Chris Johns. Referee Andrew Davey pointed to the spot when Coleraine defender David Ogilby pulled the striker back inside the 18 yard box.

This was to pave the way of the first-half as they continued to dominate throughout as the home side doubled their advantage on the half hour mark. Coleraine were caught napping at a quick free-kick as Casement released Quinn who found Stafford in space at the back post and the defender made no mistake with his close range header.

Coleraine should have pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time. Some clever link-up play between Darren McCauley and Jamie McGonigle in the build-up allowed McGonigle to race through on goal but his effort was deflected behind by Roy Carroll.

As the half-time whistle sounded at The National Stadium it was the home side who were in the ascendancy against an under par Coleraine side.

David Healy would have been the happier of the two managers at the break whilst Oran Kearney’s side looked set for their first league defeat of the season.

It was a tale of two halves as Coleraine started the second-half the brighter of the two sides and pulled a goal back just short of the hour mark.

Darren McCauley popped up with a neat turn and shot from the edge of the area and his effort found its way into the back of the net.

Oran Kearney’s side went in search of an equaliser throughout the second-half with Josh Carson and Ian Parkhill going close for the visitors.

The Bannsiders piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the match but to no avail meaning their unbeaten run of 14 league games comes to an end.

The defeat means the Bannsiders still sit top of the Danske Bank Premiership table but their cushion is now just 2 points over closest challengers Glenavon.

LINFIELD FC: Carroll, Stafford, C. Stewart (‘73, Millar), Haughey, Waterworth, Lowry, J. Stewart (‘73, Burns), Clarke, Casement, Garrett, Quinn

UNUSED SUBS: Callacher, Rooney, Mitchell

COLERAINE FC: Johns, Mullan, Harkin, Ogilby (‘45, McConaghie), McCauley, Smith, Carson, O’Donnell, Parkhill (‘79, McCready), Traynor, McGonigle

UNUSED SUBS: Douglass, Kee, Whiteside

Referee: Andrew Davey