IRISH LEAGUE: Coleraine rise to fourth after comeback win

Coleraine 3, Ballinamallard 1
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Nov 2016, 17:02 BST
Updated 22nd Nov 2016, 12:06 BST
James McLaughlin celebrates with Jordan Allan after he scored Coleraine's second goal. Picture by Andrew Paton/Press EyeJames McLaughlin celebrates with Jordan Allan after he scored Coleraine's second goal. Picture by Andrew Paton/Press Eye
James McLaughlin celebrates with Jordan Allan after he scored Coleraine's second goal. Picture by Andrew Paton/Press Eye

Coleraine produced an excellent comeback at home to Ballinamallard United to move up to fourth in the Danske Bank Premiership.

Shane McGinty had given the visitors an early lead, but Jordan Allan, James McLaughlin and Neil McCafferty all found the target to give Oran Kearney’s men the spoils.

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The visitors got off to a dream start taking the lead inside 11 minutes. Former Bannsider McGinty finished off a sweeping move as he got on the end of Ryan Mayse’s cut back.

McGinty went close again on 18 minutes after Gareth McConaghie had lost the ball, David Ogilby blocked the wide man’s shot from the edge of the box.

It was a vital intervention in more ways than one as two minutes later the hosts levelled things up.

McConaghie’s free kick was flicked on by Jamie McGonigle for Jordan Allan to cleverly finish past James McGrath.

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Ballinamallard were content to soak up Coleraine pressure and hit them on the counter. It almost paid dividends on 51 minutes as Mayse sent Callum Frempong racing clear, his shot was swallowed up by Chris Johns though.

The Bannsiders carved out an opening of their own a minute later as Allan sent McGonigle clear, McGrath stood firm to beat away his first time shot however.

McConaghie almost edged his side back in front again on 67 minutes, but his curling free kick was pushed wide by McGrath. From the resulting corner Lyons almost finished at the back post after Allan had flicked the ball on.

The Bannsiders took the lead on 72 minutes as top scorer McLaughlin showed his poaching instinct to finish from close range after Allan had been denied by McGrath.

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The visitors were denied an equaliser with five minutes to go as Johns produced an excellent save to push away Jonny Lafferty’s shot.

Three minutes later the points were assured for the home side as McCafferty fired home from the spot after Allan had spent sent sprawling in the box.

Coleraine: Johns, Kane, Ogilby, McCauley, McCafferty, Brown, McConaghie, Lyons, Parkhill (McLaughlin 67), McGonigle (Kee 78), Allan (Mullan 92).

Subs: Higgins, Douglas.

Ballinamallard United: McGrath, McMenamin, Taheny, McCabe (Owens 83), McGinty, McKenna, McCartney, McConnell (Morris 80), Lecky, Mayse, Frempong (Lafferty 73).

Subs: McIlwaine, Elliott.

Referee: S Gregg

Related topics:Coleraine