Higgins pleased to make last four of Bet McLean Cup
Coleraine defeated Moyola Park 2-0 on Tuesday night. Photo: Coleraine FC.
Reporter:
Damian Mullan
Email:
damian.mullan@thechronicle.uk.com
Wednesday 3 December 2025 15:26
Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins admitted satisfaction at guiding his team into the semi-finals of the Bet McLean Cup on Tuesday night.
The Bannsiders scored once in each half to defeat third tier Moyola Park at a pakced Mill Meadow to progress to the last four.
There, they will meet Glentoran at the Oval after the east Belfast club defeated Cliftonville on penalties.
"We've got into the semi-final which is the most important thing," admitted Higgins.
"We could have been a lot better. In some aspects we were okay.
"We made a lot of changes and it was important to use the squad and get ourselves into the semi-final and we've managed to do that.”
Teenager Alex Watson broke the deadlock late in the first half before the impressive Will Patching made the game safe with a thunderbolt after half-time.
"The first goal, it's a brilliant run from deep by Alex and a great pass by Cameron.
"The second goal, Lyndon injects a bit of speed into the attack and it drops to Will, 25 yards out, and he smashed it in the top corner. That's the ability he has.
"He showed unbelievable professionalism tonight, how he went about it, in and out of possession. He was outstanding.
"He was probably the most talented player on the pitch but he gave absolutely everything in the game and really grabbed the game with the scruff of the neck.”
The only blemish on an otherwise good night in front of a sizeable crowd with an injury to defender Kodi Lyons-Foster, sustained trying to reach a Patching free-kick in the second half.
"The crowd was really good," said Higgins.
"I actually wasn't expecting as many to be here on a night as cold as this so fair play to our supporters and their supporters.
"It's actually a really good facility here, and it's good to see Moyola doing really well. They seem to be an ambitious club, so good luck to them."
Moyola Park boss Marty Smith, who spent five years as a coach at Coleraine, admitted he was proud of his players' efforts against a top side.
"We were competitive," he said.
"We tried to make it as difficult as we could for Coleraine. Too open and we would have been cut to ribbons so we wanted to come and be compact and be difficult to play against and I think we were.
"It's a really good night for our players to see the level. It's a good night for the club. To bring Coleraine here and we're happy with the performance we put on.
"Obviously, we're missing a few players with injuries at the top end of the pitch and, had had we had them, we maybe could have had a wee bit more of a go.
"Overall, we're disappointed to go out of the cup but we're happy with the performance we put on.”
