FOOTBALL: Coleraine reach Co-op final
HITMAN Rory Patterson helped Coleraine book their place in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final.
The 24 year old striker, who will join Glentoran at the end of the season, grabbed his 27th goal of the season against brave Dungannon Swifts at the Oval.
Stephen Carson added a second following a calamity in the Swifts defence to guarantee the Bannsiders their spot on the showcase decider against Glentoran on Saturday, March 27 – with Windsor Park the probable venue.
If Patterson took a certain amount of stick from angry Coleraine fans following his decision to join the east Belfast club, he had them jumping with joy following his latest contribution.
Even a 15 minute delay due to floodlight failure couldn't take the spotlight away from the player who is fast establishing himself as the Irish League's hottest property.
The Bannsiders should have opened their account on eight minutes. Tolan's return pass put Carson in the clear and, following a lightning 30 yard dash, the Northern Ireland winger could only look on in horror as his shot was beaten away by the outstretched leg of Alvin Rouse.
Swifts responded with Emerson breaking down the left, but his accurate cross was just missed by the head of Timmy Adamson.
But in a frantic opening Coleraine carved out another gilt-edged chance, which Patterson surprisingly spurned.
The 25-year-old burst through a static Swifts defence, but again Rouse made an astonishing save with his body.
However, Patterson was not to be denied. He reacted quickly to a Gareth Harkin cross on 24 minutes and superbly flicked the ball over Rouse into the roof of the net.
It was end to end stuff and Swifts were right out of luck in their next attack. McCann's flick sent Adamson scampering into the box. His first time shot beat Davy O'Hare, but agonisingly crashed off the base of the post.
After the break, it was Dungannon who threatened first with Ward directing an Adamson cross just over the crossbar.
Coleraine then began to look vulnerable at the back with Emerson heading a McCann cross inches over.
But a dreadful error by Rouse and defender Fergal McAliskey gifted the Bannsiders a second goal on 60 minutes – which literally ended the contest.
Both hesitated following a long punt through the middle and Carson nipped between them to head the ball into the empty net.
It should have been three seven minutes later when Carson's sublime pass picked out Tolan, but after rounding Adam McMinn, Rouse somehow clawed the ball off the striker's toe.
Coleraine: O'Hare, Beverland, Mukendi, McVey, Hegarty, McCallion, Carson (Gibson 90), Harkin, Dooley (Tommins 84), Patterson, Tolan (Boyce 70). Subs: McCormick, Canning.
Dunagnnon: Rouse, Ferguson, McMinn, Montgomery (Murphy 74), McClean, McAliskey, McCann, Emerson (Conor Forker 77), McIlmoyle (Coney 65), Adamson, Ward. Subs: Aidan Forker, Morgan.
Referee: D Malcolm (Bangor).
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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