STORY OF THE MATCH: Bangor 0 Coleraine 2
Coleraine banished the demons from their last visit to Clandeboye Park as two first half goals did the damage to see off Bangor.
Here’s a story of the match from Clandeboye Park.
7: The first chance of the game as the rain trickles down as Reece Neale’s cross is headed wide by Ben Arthurs for the hosts.
13: Another effort for the hosts as Neale and Iestyn Hughes link-up down the left-hand side. The latter crosses for Arthurs and he chests the ball into the path of Ben Cushnie who arrows off target.
15: Joel Cooper – who netted in the previous meeting between the two sides – shows a turn of pace on the right-hand side and his shot is turned around the post by Gareth Deane.
16: Coleraine think they have taken the lead as Mark Connolly heads in from a corner kick. However, his celebrations are cut short as the referee adjudged there was a foul beforehand.
21: Massive chance for the Bannsiders as Matthew Shevlin expertly turns inside the box and his shot is saved by Deane, with the former Coleraine stopper then thwarting James Akintunde’s follow-up.
32: GOAL – Bangor 0 Coleraine 1 (Shevlin)
The breakthrough arrives for Coleraine as Ben Wylie’s corner kick finds the feet of Shevlin thanks to flick ons by Charles Dunne and Connolly, with the forward making no mistake with a clinical finish. A sore one for the hosts who were temporarily reduced to ten men after Neale had to receive treatment for a head injury.
34: A big opportunity for 2-0 as Cooper is heavily involved yet again as his cross meets the head of Shevlin who can’t keep his attempt on target.
42: Bangor have Lewis Francis to thank as he manages to slide the ball to safety after Cooper’s shot looked certain to find the back of the net.
45: A great save by Deane yet again as Coleraine launch a counter attack with Cooper’s effort being kept out.
GOAL – Bangor 0 Coleraine 2 (Wylie)
Ben Wylie grabs his first Coleraine since arriving in the January transfer window from Portadown. After Cooper was denied (as mentioned above), the midfielder picks up the ball and expertly finds the bottom corner.
45: What an incredible save by Ryan Schofield. For all the world it looks like Neale is netting for Bangor but the Coleraine ‘keeper manages to tip the defender’s shot onto the crossbar.
H-T: Bangor 0 Coleraine 2
60: Coleraine work the ball on the left-hand side which results in Mark Coyle’s effort flashing wide.
75: Not much to report this half as both teams have used their bench.
76: Neale has already showed he has an eye for goal but this time his effort fails to trouble Schofield.
82: Here’s a stat for you all...Michael Halliday comes on for his Premiership appearance in 4669 days. Wow!
88: Coleraine sub Senan Devine tries his luck but his low effort goes the wrong side of the post.
90: A great save by Deane late on to deny Shevlin.
F-T: Bangor 0 Coleraine 2
BANGOR: Deane, Neale, Hassin, Arthurs (Ferguson ‘56 mins), Cushnie (Halliday ‘83 mins), Lynch, Francis, Garrett (Burns ‘56 mins), Morgan (Walker ‘90 mins), Hughes (Matier ‘90 mins), Mitchell.
Subs Not Used: Grogan (GK), Owens.
COLERAINE: Schofield, Jarvis (Ives ‘69 mins), Boyle, Shevlin, Cooper, Dunne, McDonald (Kane ‘69 mins), Wylie (Devine ‘78 mins), Coyle, Akintunde (McGonigle ‘63 mins), Connolly.
Subs Not Used: Webb (GK), Stewart, Okoro.
Referee: Shane Andrews