Coleraine dig in for a point at the Oval

Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins blasted the match officials after watching his side earn a crucial point in a 1-1 draw with Glentoran at the Oval on Saturday.

The Bannsiders were reduced to 10 men just before the break when Rowan McDonald was sent off by referee Shane Andrews for a foul on Pat Hoban on the halfway line and had a penalty given against them in the closing stages.

Keeper Ryan Schofield brilliantly saved Hoban's spot kick to preserve a share of the spoils for the visitors, who lost striker James Akintunde to a serious injury in the early part of the game.

Given the circumstances it was a good draw for the away side who are four points behind second placed Glentoran and eight behind leaders Larne.

Higgins' men travel to Stangmore Park to face Dungannon Swifts this weekend in their first post split game, with the Glens and Linfield meeting at the Oval and Larne hosting Cliftonville.

"Really proud of the players but disgusted again coming to the Oval, with a lot of things that went on," said Higgins after the game.

"Last time we came here in the league, 1-0 up and comfortable, a red card and a penalty against us, this time we have come here and had a penalty and a red card against us.

"We were in total control, away, not on a good pitch, two good sides going at it, but we were in total control of the game, scored a brilliant goal and we deserved more," he added.

Coleraine were dealt a blow inside the opening minutes when Akintunde was forced to leave the field on a stretcher with what looked to be a serious injury.

His replacement, Jamie McGonigle, fired Coleraine in front just before half-time with a coolly taken goal before they were reduced to 10 men after the dismissal of Rowan McDonald.

The away side defended stoutly after the break but were undone with 15 minutes remaining as substitute Jordan Stewart headed home at the back post from Ross Clarke's cross.

There was late drama to come as Shane Andrews adjudged Charles Dunne to have handled the ball inside the penalty area but Schofield dived full length to his right to deny the league's top scorer.