AFTER a disastrous first half at Mourneview Park, Coleraine came close to a comeback of epic proportions, but ultimately fell just short as Glenavon just about survived the onslaught to take the victory.

For the first ten minutes of the game it was all Coleraine, but the early goal which would have provided a timely confidence boost after three successive 1-0 defeats, eluded them.

A good run and cross from Carson ultimately came to nothing as the ball stopped dead inside the penalty area, but no player could get near it to turn it towards goal. Then Patterson tried a speculative lob from distance and was just off target.

But disaster struck in the 12^th minute as the home side earned a corner, which Davy O’Hare came to collect but failed to either catch it or clear it with a punch, Trevor Molloy hit it against the bar and as the Coleraine defence stood ball-watching, Glenavon captain Conor Walsh tapped it in.

This didn’t seem to alter the general flow of the game as Coleraine continued to have good opportunities to score. Former Glenavon striker Richard Gibson was denied a goal on his return to Mourneview when his head was kept out by an excellent save from Tuda Murphy, who dived to his left to claw the ball away from the net. Then Patterson was again unlucky, just missing the target as he shot on the turn.

But despite their continuing dominance, they found themselves 2-0 down after 36 minutes as Glenavon cut through the defence on the break allowing Ryan Harper to draw O’Hare off his line and square for Molloy, who looked suspiciously offside, to slot home.

Coleraine had a great chance to get back in the game moments later and Carson swung a pinpoint cross into the far post right onto the head of Gibson who, instead of directing it towards goal, meekly headed it past the post.

As if things couldn’t have got any worse, just before the break Glenavon won another corner and as it was whipped in Walsh rose unmarked to head it in. A shell-shocked Coleraine left the pitch to a chorus of boos from the travelling supporters with seemingly no way back into the game.

David Platt needed to gamble and at the break he did so. He withdrew Watt and Gibson and brought on new signing Eunan O’Kane and Jody Tolan and switching to a 3-5-2 formation, which although it left them a little light at the back, helped Coleraine gain greater control of the midfield.

It slowly but surely paid benefits as Coleraine pushed Glenav on back inside their own half and began to carve out chances on a consistent basis. Hegarty shot over the bar after a decent build up and Tommons was denied by Murphy at the near post after a typical burst forward from midfield.

It took until just before the hour mark for Coleraine to get the goal they deserved. Patterson did well to hold off a vigorous challenge from his marker and lay the ball off to O’Kane who slotted homer a low shot to give Coleraine some hope.

Tolan was denied by a block on the line from Magee and Patterson by a save from Murphy as they continued to press but it took until 15 minutes from the end for the second goal to come. Again Patterson was instrumental, a great touch through creating the opportunity which was eventually finished by Tolan.

Patterson shot over from a flick on by Boyce, Carson shot over after the ball bobbled up off the surface as he swung his leg and Boyce headed over twice in the closing stages, but the real cause of consternation were two clear penalty appeals which were waved away by referee Hugh Carville, first when Tommons was shoved in the back as he shielded the ball inside the area and then as Tolan was clattered by Murphy as he moved in towards goal.

Team:  O'Hare, Hegarty, McVey, McLaughlin, Patterson, Carson, McClements (Boyce 73), Watt (O’Kane 46), Tommons, Harkin, Gibson (Tolan 46)

Unused Subs: Mukendi, Neill.

colerainefc.com Man of the Match – Rory Patterson

Report by Andrew Gillan