Coleraine edge out Carrick in seven-goal thriller
Friday, 31 October 2008
COLERAINE take a slender one goal advantage into next Tuesday's second leg of their CIS Insurance Cup tie against Carrick Rangers following a hard-fought 4-3 win at Taylor's Avenue on Wednesday night.
The Bannsiders were pushed all the way by the Championship side who put it up to their Premiership opponents for the 90 minutes and who were undone by an own-goal in the dying minutes.
The result ensures that Coleraine will start as favourites for the second leg but Stephen Small's side showed enough to suggest that they will make the return game an interesting affair. The visitors got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring following their first meaningful attack in the tenth minute when Stephen Dooley headed home a Stephen Carson corner.
Lawrence McCormick, deputising for the suspended Davy O'Hare, produced a fine save to deny Kyle McDowell while Carson and Dooley both went close to extending Coleraine's lead. Carrick drew level just after the half hour through Chris Wilkinson's free-kick and almost edged in front when Darren McNamee's header crashed off the woodwork. The Championship side continued to take the game to their opponents and the ever dangerous McDowell fired them in front after 64 minutes.
Richard Gibson made it 2-2 moments later, tapping home from close range following good work from Darren Cassidy, before fellow striker Davy Patton made it 3-2 with a similar goal three minutes later.
But Carrick weren't finished yet and Costello ensured a grandstand finish when he charged down McCormick's attempted clearance to score in the 68th minute.
With the game delicately poised it was the Premiership side who claimed the win in the dying minutes when Carrick sub James Forsythe put through his own net following an inswinging corner from Stephen Carson.
It was a cruel way to lose for the Championship side who contributed handsomely to a rip-roaring game played in difficult conditions.
If the second leg at the Coleraine Showgrounds next Tuesday evening (November 4) is half as good then we're in for a heck of a game.
Carrick Rangers:McCluskey, Watson, Wilkinson, McNamee, Branniff, Prenter, Irwin, Taggart, Costello, McDowell, Okainaya. Subs: Toner, O'Hare, Parker, Walsh, Forsythe..
Coleraine: McCormick, Beverland, Crossan, McVey, McLaughlin, Cassidy, Tolan, Carson, Harkin, Dooley, Shields. Subs: Patton, Lamont, Neill, Gibson, Ewart.
Referee: Simon Creaney (Newtownards).
