Coleraine 3
Ballymena United 2
League (NIFL Premiership)

Match Report

A second half rally from Ballymena United ultimately wasn't enough as Coleraine scored late to win the first derby of the season 3-2 at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday night.

United headed into the first A26 derby of the new campaign off the back of a 2-2 draw with Bangor last weekend and Oran Kearney made three changes from that side. Matthew Clarke and Charlie Allen were enforced omissions, while Igor Rutkowski dropped to the bench, with Finley Thorndike, Success Edogun and Micheál Glynn coming into start, as Glynn made his debut for United.

It was Coleraine offering a lot of the early pressure after settling better, with a huge chance coming and going when Matthew Shevlin kicked air instead of the ball when he went to finish at close range, but on twelves minutes he had his goal with the opener. After Jay Henderson was able to just about keep the ball in play on the byline and put it into the six yard box, the ball ricocheted to Matthew Shevlin who finished, although he appeared to control the ball with his arm.

Ballymena had a massive opportunity to instantly draw level when Thorndike slipped Hood in, but after the youngster did well to sit his marker down in the box, he then blazed over a big opening.

On thirty-two minutes, United's task became that bit harder when Coleraine added a second. When a corner was headed away from danger by Fuad Sule, it fell to Jay Henderson who let fly from a good thirty-five yards and arrowed a fine strike past David Walsh.

The Braidmen finished the half with their brightest spell yet and almost pulled one back when a Thorndike corner was met by someone in yellow in a crowded box, but the effort was blocked on the line by Lewis Webb. Edogun had a chance closer to half time, but could only drag a shot wide of the post, as the visitors headed into half time with a mountain to climb.

The Sky Blues looked to be carrying more of a sustained threat in the second period and nine minutes into it, James Hood pulled a goal back. Chris McKee was able to drive forward through the middle of the Coleraine half and when he slid a ball through for the advanced James Hood, he managed to finish this time as he slotted past Webb.

It was the Bannsiders' turn to almost score straight after conceding when Ben Wylie's strike from the left was hit well, but straight at Walsh, before a period that was quiet in terms of chances, but saw Rutkowski replace Edogun, was ended by Joel Copper's rasping hit from range pulling a big save from Walsh.

With United continuing to knock on the door without really troubling Webb, a mistake at the other end from David Toure, who was the last man back, allowed Cooper to race away in search of a third, but Walsh stood tall to thwart him with a massive stop and then with ten minutes to go, the away side had the chance to level from the spot. A strike from the edge of the box from substitute Sean Murray struck the arm of Dylan Boyle in the box and in front of the away end, Chris McKee was the coolest man in the ground to stick the penalty away.

Ballymena may well have fancied themselves to be in the best position to chase a winner given their momentum, but five minutes later, the hosts led again. After conceding a corner, United were unable to get the first contact on the cross and instead it was met by Aidan Wilson, who headed home.

Coleraine almost made sure of the points two minutes later when Cooper crossed for Adam Brooks, but he could only hit straight at Walsh from point blank range. A bit of added time pressure came to nothing in the end for Ballymena, who left the Ballycastle Road emptied handed, despite a spirited second half revival.

Match report written by Philip McPeake (www.ballymenaunitedfc.com)