Cup success for the Bannsiders

COLERAINE Academy Under-11's progressed to the last 16 of the NI Boys Cup with a hard fought victory over Carryduff Colts on Saturday.

The boys started well creating several chances from Sean Kennedy, Aaron Doherty and Kenny Kane in the first 15 minutes but several outstanding saves from the Carryduff Colts keeper kept Coleraine at bay. It was only after another fine stop that Aaron Doherty pounced on the rebound to give Coleraine a well deserved lead.

Tireless work from Kane on the left and Glen McMullan on the right caused all sorts of problems for the visitors, but chances went begging and Carryduff punished them with a great counter attack from which they levelled the scores.

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The second half continued in the same vein but the Carryduff keeper was in fantastic form denying Coleraine on several occasions.

Substitute Jordan Gregg entered the fray and he had and immediate impact slotting home Lewis Mitchell’s cross.

With 10 minutes to go the visitors drew level again but Coleraine kept plugging away. Their efforts were rewarded just before the end as Finley Bacon fired home the winner after some great work by Lewis Mitchell.

It was a great day for the Under-11’s and a huge credit must go to both teams as the match was played in a fine and sporting matter. Coleraine now await the draw for the next round.

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Team: Callum Howard, Robbie Doherty (Capt) Griffin Phillipson, Keenan Buick, Adam Mackay, Glen McMullan, Andrew Black, Sean Kennedy, Kenny Kane, Aaron Doherty, Lewis Mitchell, Sam Magee, Gareth Henderson, Jordan Gregg.

U16’s

Coleraine Under-16’s were back in action again on Saturday as they took on Glenavon in the NIBFA Cup.

The boys were understandably a bit rusty after their enforced break and tokk a while to settle into their passing game.

Coleraine opened the scoring on 22 minutes as the Glenavon keeper failed to hold on to Campbell’s rasping drive and he was punished as David Healy was alert to tap the ball into the net.

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Healy grabbed his and Coleraine’s second soon after after a great run by Lindsay. The Glenavon defender tackle stopped his run with a good tackle, but the ball broke for Healy who coolly slotted home from close range.

The start of the second half was a complete turnaround and within six minutes the match was all square. Two poor pieces of defending saw Glenavon score from close range. At this stage it appeared that the tide had turned with Coleraine coming under sustained pressure.

Coleraine held on and the game moved into extra time. Six minutes in and Craig Moore scored what turned out to be the winner. And what a goal it was as he rifled home a shot from fully 35-yards.

With three minutes to go the referee amazed everyone when he showed a straight red card to Dean Murray for flicking the heels of an opponent. Coleraine remained calm and Jamie McAllister pulled off a wonderful save to stop a certain goal after the Glenavon centre forward fired in a volley from all of four yards. It was a fantastic save and ensured the young Bannsiders find themselves in the hat for the draw for the last sixteen of this year’s competition.

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Speaking after the match coach Stevie McCann said: “I’m happy with the result but not the performance and the boys know that. They thought it was won at half time despite what they were told and didn't start in the second half."

The boys and coaches would like to thank those who turned up to support them and those who provided the refreshments after the game. The under 16's return to league action on Wednesday night against Dungannon under floodlights at Dungannon Youth's ground kick off 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, the U16 Community Team were at home against Culmore after their extended break. The first half saw Mark Donnelly put Coleraine in front.

For the next twenty minutes the Bannsiders dominated the play but were caught on the break five minutes before half time when Culmore scored. The second half saw both teams pushing forward, Aaron Devlin produced a carbon copy of the Bannsiders’ first goal to put them back in front again.

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Both teams produced some more chances but again it was Coleraine who was caught out just before the final whistle when a Culmore player drifted in to a dangerous position to score the winner, 3-2 to Culmore.