Bannsiders grab excellent win at Solitude

Coleraine eased their early-season woes with a fully-merited victory over previously unbeaten Cliftonville at Solitude.
Coleraine's Ian Parkhill celebrates with Neil McCafferty. Picture by Darren Kidd / Press EyeColeraine's Ian Parkhill celebrates with Neil McCafferty. Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye
Coleraine's Ian Parkhill celebrates with Neil McCafferty. Picture by Darren Kidd / Press Eye

Behind to a Johnny Flynn header, the Bannsiders levelled through Neil McCafferty’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time, with young Ian Parkhill nodding them in front early in the second period.

Martin Donnelly converted a free-kick of his own to level things again before McCafferty’s second of the day - this time from the penalty spot - earned all three points for Oran Kearney’s side.

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Flynn’s opener midway through the first period came very much against the run of play with Coleraine having already threatened through Darren McCauley and Parkhill.

Rather than feel sorry for themselves, however, the visitors drew level thanks to McCafferty’s inch-perfect conversion and, when Parkhill got on the end of McCafferty’s delivery on 50 minutes, they had victory in their sights.

Donnelly made it 2-2 before Joe Gormley made a hash of two gilt-edged chances - misses the Reds would come to rue when Shane McGinty took an 84th minute tumble in the box and McCafferty stepped up to convert from 12 yards.

CLIFTONVILLE: Brown, McGovern, Scannell, Johnston, Flynn, Curran, McDaid, M Donnelly, Knowles, Seydak, Gormley. Subs: McMullan, Garrett (for Curran, 75 mins), Winchester (for Knowles, 82 mins), Cosgrove, Mulvenna (for McDaid, 77 mins).

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COLERAINE: Doherty, Beverland, Douglas, McCafferty, Browne, Harkin, McGinty, Canning, Mullan, Parkhill, McCauley. Subs: Hegarty (for Browne, 77 mins), Ogilby, Watt, Kane, Miskimmin (for Parkhill, 70 mins).

REFEREE: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)

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