Bannsiders get back to winning ways with victory over DC

After back-to-back defeats at the hands of Glenavon and Cliftonville it was important that they picked up a much needed win against struggling DC - and that’s just what they did much to the delight of boss Oran Kearney.

“It has been a tough couple of weeks for us and two disappointing results and with that, it doesn’t matter what league you’re in you want to get back to winning ways,” he told Times Sport after the game.

“People might try and say it’s only Donegal Celtic you were playing, but I certainly don’t buy into that because I don’t think there are any poor teams in this league.

“DC showed that today. They came with a plan and worked hard and stuck to it throughout the 90 minutes.

“Again today we had a lot of the ball and the play and we took two of chances at least, on another day we maybe could have had a couple more.

“We managed to get the goals at a good time. I thought our performance up until we scored the second goal was pretty good, but the second goal killed us as such in that human nature we just took our foot off the pedal a bit.

“In the 10 minutes in which we did that Donegal Celtic got back into the game and grabbed their goal and it could have turned it into an edgy affair again.

“But thankfully it didn’t. We kept the ball well and they had very few chances after that and we just saw the game out in the right half of the pitch in the closing stages without any real scares so I can’t really complain.”

Neither side was overly stretched in the opening 40 minutes. David Scullion had the best opportunity 10 minutes before the break as Curtis Allen fired in a low ball across the face of goal, but the ball took a nasty bobble meaning the wide man’s effort sailed over the target with the goal gaping.

He made up for it moments later though as he turned provider for Allen to glance a header in.

And two minutes after the restart Darren Boyce slotted home after a howler by visiting keeper John Connolly, who spilled Ryan McIlmoyle’s centre under pressure from Boyce.

But DC pulled a goal back through sub Ciaran Gargan who fired in with his first tough, Coleraine though held on for a much-needed win.

And it was no coincidence given that defensive lynchpins David Ogilby and Howard Beverland were back in tandem at the heart of the Bannsiders defence.

“We never complain about injuries as it always gives other players opportunities,” Kearney said.

“But in the same stretch a big part of my success at this club has been built on the solid foundation of Howard and David.

“So from my point of view I’m delighted to have them back and hopefully that’s them back in there for a while…for the rest of the season I hope!”

DC boss Pat McAllister was pleased with his side’s efforts, but was disappointed to have noting to show for it again.

“There is a lot of positives for us to take out of today’s game,” he said.

“Coleraine are a top four side and we’re very disappointed to be leaving here with nothing to show for our efforts.

“The big turning point in the game came just before they scored their first and Mark Miskimmin had a super chance to put us in front but unfortunately he missed it. And then of course Coleraine go straight up the pitch and score with a goal which I feel we should have dealt with better.

“Our keeper John Connolly has held his hands up for the second, it was a poor mistake on our behalf.

“But we showed great character to battle back. Last week when we went behind we collapsed, today though was completely different. We scored a great goal and put it up to Coleraine and kept pressing on, but we lacked that wee bit of quality in the final third.”