FOOTBALL: Bannsiders crash again against Distillery

David Platt's side should have been out of sight by half time, but once again their inability to find the net when they were on top cost them.

In the end old stager Glenn Ferguson showed the hosts how it's done with a predator's finish on 64 minutes to seal back to back wins for Tommy Wright's men.

It could have been worse for the home side as the Whites were awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time. But Davey O'Hare pulled off a great save to deny Gary Liggett.

The hosts dominated the first half and should have been well in front by the break, but once again their profligacy in front of goal proved their downfall.

Straight from the kick off David Platt's side showed their intent as they went at Distillery.

But Paul Brown's shot from a tight angle, after Gareth Harkin's clever pass never troubled Matthews in the Whites' goal.

The game surged into life on 18 minutes as the Bannsiders came agonisingly close to breaking their goal duck.

Gareth Harkin exchanged passes with Stephen Carson before surging in to the box, but his left foot shot was tipped on to the bar by Matthews.

Three minutes later Brown headed Lowry's free wide after Canning had been upended by Patton outside the box.

Coleraine laid siege to the visitors' goal just before the half hour mark, but still they couldn't find a goal.

First Darren Boyce had a header blocked and from the resultant corner both Harkin and McVey were denied by more resolute defending. Stephen Lowry picked up the loose ball outside the box and he too had a goal-bound effort blocked.

On 31 minutes the Bannsiders cut the Distillery rearguard open to present Stephen Carson with a glorious chance to break the deadlock.

Paul Brown's clever header sent Lowry racing clear down the right and his sublime cross picked out his captain at the back post, but Carson's first time effort was always rising and never troubled Matthews.

Coleraine had calls for a penalty waved away on 34 minutes with Andy Hunter and Paul Muir climbing all over the back of Brown.

It was all Coleraine now but eight minutes before the break they spurned another golden opportunity. This time it came from the unlikely source of full back John Watt. He picked up Brown's pass just inside the box but his curling shot sailed well wide.

Coleraine continued to threaten the visitors' defence at the start of the second half with David Ogilby and his former 'Stute team-mate Paul Brown both going close.

The Bannsiders though had a let off on 49 minutes as Mark Patton picked out an unmarked Gary Liggett in the box. But the former Glenavon man couldn't repeat his heroics from the weekend as he crashed his close range volley off the post.

Coleraine failed to head the warning and were made to pay for their inability to find the target as Distillery edged in front on 64 minutes through talismanic striker Glenn Ferguson.

The veteran front man showed his predatory instincts as he slotted home from close after Hunter's long throw had only been partially cleared.

The Whites suffered a blow on 73 minutes as full back Aaron Traynor was stretchered off after what looked like an innocuous challenge.

Ferguson teed up his strike partner on 83 minutes, but Liggett could only drag his shot across goal.

In stoppage time substitute David Cushley should have made it 2-0 as Liggett sent him clear, but Davey O'Hare denied him with an excellent reaction save.

Coleraine were reduced to 10 men right at the death as teenage defender Aaron Canning was harshly adjudged to have brought down Liggett in the box.

The striker dusted himself down but O'Hare again showed his class as he expertly saved the spot kick.

Coleraine: O'Hare, McVey, Ogilby, Watt (Tommons 80), Lowry, Hegarty, Harkin, Carson, Brown (Black 71), Boyce.

Subs not used: Beverland, Harkness, Millar.

Lisburn Distillery: Matthews, Hunter, Muir, Kilmartin, Thompson, Ferguson, Browne (Forsythe 84), Patton (Cushley 61), Simpson, Liggett, Traynor (Cooling 73).

Subs not used: Morton, Cooling, Davidson.

Referee: David Dunlop.