Injury to 'keeper Schofield mars pre season trip to Fleetwood

A serious looking injury to Coleraine goalkeeper Ryan Schofield marred an otherwise encouraging pre-season defeat to Sky Bet League Two side Fleetwood Town on Saturday.

The big 'keeper, only signed in the summer, picked up what appeared to be a shoulder injury and may be a doubt for the Bannsiders' opening league fixture at home to Larne on Friday 8.

"It's the shoulder, collarbone sort of area, so he'll go now and get scanned," confirmed Coleraine manager Ruadhri Higgins to Coleraine media.

"It doesn't look brilliant at the minute, but you can never confirm anything until you actually get the results.

"It's the biggest disappointment from today's game to be honest. The lads go through an absolute mountain of work and that's a really, really disappointing thing.

"Listen, it's football, you pick up injuries, but there's no doubt we're going to probably need to add a goalkeeper if it's long term," he added.

First-half goals from Ryan Graydon and Finley Potter had the Cod Army in front at the break but a Will Patching free-kick from the edge of the box made it 2-1 with 15 minutes left to play.

The visitors, however, were unable to find an equaliser in front of a vociferous travelling support, much to the manager's frustration.

"It was a good work-out against a good side, a brilliant workout at the perfect time," continued Higgins.

"They're a good side, a really big athletic team with a lot of lads over 6'1", 6'2", and the second goal comes from them just being more physical from a set play than us.

"There was zero in the game, there was absolutely nothing in it, and they've ended up being 2-0 up in the first half when, as I said, there was nothing in the game.

"But our lads showed a really good attitude and really good quality at times as well. The pitch got sticky as it progressed but we showed really good bravery and quality and Will got a fantastic goal.

"I thought the lads that came off the bench gave us real energy and hunger and gave us that wee extra bit that we needed towards the end of the game," he added.

Opposite number, Fleetwood boss Pete Wild, admitted it had been a competitive game for his team which opens its league account with a trip to Barnet on the opening day.

"They played well," he said.

"The manager's done an excellent job in recruiting

"The team that they put out today, they moved the ball really well, they've been really competitive.

"I know quite a lot of the Irish League, so, they'll do well next year

"I thought it was a real good test for us – for both teams – and I thought they acquitted themselves excellently.

"You can see why they've gone after the manager and gone in that way."