Coleraine crash out of Bet McLean Cup

TWO second half goals from Philip Lowry saw Crusaders come from behind to defeat Coleraine 2-1 in the Bet McLean Cup at Seaview on Tuesday night.

The midfielder scored minutes after the restart and again in the final minute to seal a come from behind win for the Crues after Matthew Shevlin had headed the visitors into a 17th minute lead.

It could, however, have been so much different had the Bannsiders taken advantage of a promising opening to the game.

Jamie McGonigle spurned two good chances in the opening 10 minutes in an entertaining first half.

First he dragged his shot across goal following a clever Jack Scott pass before doing something similar moments later following a Crusaders defensive error.

The Crues then came close to scoring as Malachy Smith’s long range shot rattled the top of the cross bar after Mackenzie Carse’s loose pass out of defence presented him with the opportunity.

The goal that was being threatened duly arrived in the 17th minute from a familiar source – the in-form Matthew Shevlin.

Jamie McGonigle and Connor Murray combined brilliantly down the left before the latter crossed for Shevlin to rise about his marker and head into the roof of the net from six yards.

Crusaders responded positively to the goal and Kieran Offord wasted a glorious chance when he blazed high over the crossbar from 12 yards after being released by Philip Lowry before Rory Brown got down low to deny Jarlath O’Rourke moments later.

The chances kept on coming and Connor Murray was denied a fine goal by a diving safe by Tuffey just after the half hour.

Crusaders drew level just minutes after the restart as Philip Lowry’s deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area looped over the head of Rory Brown and into the back of the net.

Stewart Nixon could have netted moments later but his goal bound header from a Malachy Smith cross was well held by Brown.

Declan Caddell's side dominated in the closing stages as the game looked set for extra-time.

However, Philip Lowry had other ideas, winning the game in the 90th minute with his second goal of the evening.

Jarlath O’Rourke swung a free-kick all the way across the Coleraine goalmouth where it was met by the unmarked Lowry who volleyed back across goal and into the far corner of the goal.

Jamie Glackin had a chance to level the game in added time but his free-kick from the edge of the box drifted over the bar and, with that, went Coleraine’s chances of progression.

Crusaders: Tuffey, Weir, Lowry ©, Jewitt-White, Stewart, Blaney, O’Rourke, Offord, Smith, Nixon, Lewis Barr.

Subs: Kerr, Callacher, Williamson, Owens, Walker, Leon Barr, Downey.

Coleraine: Brown, Jarvis ©, Boyle, Stewart, Scott, Shevlin, Murray, Carse, McClelland, Harkin, McGonigle.

Subs: Little, Campbell, Glackin, McLaughlin, Gaston, Devine, Smith.

Referee: Tony Clarke