Two wins in two for Coleraine Ladies FC

Banbridge were an unfamiliar team to Coleraine, having met only once in the League Cup in recent seasons, and Coleraine faced the disadvantage of a two hour drive and a 3G surface.

Both teams matched each other from the start.

Carla Dickie and midfielder Alison Nicholl had chances, whilst Lauren Marshal had two outstanding attempts thwarted. Coleraine’s efforts were not rewarded and it was clear that the ladies were finding it difficult to adapt to the pace and movement of the ball on the artificial surface. In the thirtieth minute, Banbridge were awarded a free kick which saw them taking the lead,

The two sides continued to battle it out, Coleraine’s wingers outpacing Banbridge’s defence. However, in the 38th minute an advantage ball was played in Banbridge’s favour, and with two on two in the Coleraine eighteen yard box, Banbridge held their nerve to place the ball in the bottom corner, making it 2-0.

With Coleraine’s morale dropping, they showed the same resilience demonstrated in their first match to break the deadlock and turn the match around. Just before the break, Alison Nicholl was brought down in the penalty area by a late Banbridge tackle, the referee had no choice but to award a penalty which Alison confidently struck it leave the score 2-1 at the half.

Coleraine came out strongly in the second half. Nicholl grabbed Coleraine’s second and her brace to make it 2-2.

Within a matter of minutes Coleraine had scored again to make it 3-2 when Lauren Marshall stroked home a superb effort from twenty-five yards.