Coleraine get job done against Carrick Rangers

COLERAINE 2-1 CARRICK RANGERS

IT’S not a game that will live long in the memory but Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat of Carrick Rangers is just the type of game coaches love.
Behind midway through the opening half, Coleraine showed character and resilience to dig out a result against experienced opponents.
An equaliser on the stroke of half-time was critical, leading to a sense of relief as the teams left the field.
And it was a similar feeling when Joel Cooper popped up in the right place at the right to score what proved to be the winning goal in the second period.
The three points sees the Bannsiders move to just one point behind early season pacesetters Glentoran, whose match against Larne at the Oval was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
The visitors grabbed the lead midway through the opening half, just minutes after Joel Cooper had struck the woodwork for the home side.
Billy Joe Burns lofted a high, hopeful ball into the heart of the penalty area where Ryan Waide reacted quickly to a flick on before guiding the ball past Coleraine goalkeeper Aidan Harris from six yards.
The home side drew level just before the break thanks to Zane Okoro’s first goal for the club on his first start.
The on-loan Lincoln City winger controlled a pinpoint pass from Levi Ives on his chest before bearing down on goal.
As Nathan Gartside raced off his line the American clipped the ball towards goal, the final touch coming off Carrick Rangers defender Ryan McKay.
The hosts went in front for the first time just after the hour thanks to Joel Cooper’s fifth league goal of the season.
Will Patching and Jamie Glackin combined to set up Cooper, who had the simple task of tapping home from close in.
Glackin was denied by a smart save by Nathan Gartside in the closing moments while Danny Gibson passed up a great chance for the visitors in added time.

COLERAINE: Harris, Jarvis, Boyle, Lyons-Foster (Stewart ‘70 mins), Patching, Cooper, Ives, Glackin (Long ‘90 mins), McDonald, Okoro (McGregor ‘71 mins), McManus (Shevlin ‘71 mins).

Subs Not Used: Hoey-Kemp (GK), Doherty, Devlin.

CARRICK RANGERS: Gartside, Burns, Callacher, Waide, Gibson, Maciulaitis, McCullough, Steele, Crowe (Cherry ‘64 mins), Snoddy, McKay (Buchanan-Rolleston ‘76 mins).

Subs Not Used: Pengelly (GK), Boyd, James, Grills, McCawl.

Referee: Ben McMaster.

* Full report and reaction in Tuesday's paper.