Stripes on form as they end Distillery's unbeaten run

As mentioned in the preview blog of Coleraines trip to Distillery, our away form had been poor, Distillery had been unbeaten since early October and Coleraine had more players out through injury.

Well as the Bannsiders  faithful made the trip to New Grosvenor stadium, there wasn't much faith and it seemed that if we got a point we would be happy. Would Spike hunt us again, who would replace the injured Leon Knight, it was hard to see the positives.

As Coleraine took to the field to face Distillery, who were unbeaten in their last four, the Coleraine support as expected outnumbered the home fans.  Coleraine lined up with McCormick in goals, right back Canning, Beverland and Ogilby in centre half, with Harkness occupying the left back spot.  The midfield was packed with Hegarty back after suspension, McVey, Black, Tommons and Carson, whilst Boyce was up front on his own.  Both sides then impecably observed a minutes silence in remembrance of those brave men and woman who have lost there lives.  We will remember them.

Coleraine came out of the traps fighting and looked up for the game, after early pressing, we had won a corner kick, Carson swung it in and big OG rose above everyone to head the ball into the net and put the Stripes up 1-0. Coleraine didn't stop there, and kept up the pressure, Boyce and Carson were terrorising the whites defence, it wasn't long before it was 2-0, Harkness, played a neat pass to Carson, who beat his man and fed Boyce, Boycie then went on a run, left his defender for dead and slotted past Matthews to make it 2-0, he then ran to the dugout to celebrate his goal and the Bannsiders were well on their way. Boyice who was on fire today, then made it 3-0 as he raced onto a long ball from Beverland, held of his markers and cooly slotted past Matthews to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half time.








A superb first half from Coleraine and the Coleraine fans could enjoy their half time pint a lot better.

In the 2nd half Coleraine came out unchanged, the fans had their pints, tea to warm them up and also it seemed busy at The Whites burger van, as although their ground wasn't up to scratch their burgers were. Coleraine kept up their pace in the 2nd half and still went searching for goals, Distillery had a couple of half chances, Carson also had a stonewall penalty for Coleraine turned down.  Scullion, Harkin and Docherty all got a run out near the end as Coleraine ran out deservedly 3-0 winners, in what was a fantastic attacking and defensive display from the Bannsiders.  To make the afternoon better, news filtered through to the Coleraine fans that Ballymena had been tanked 5-0 at Cliftonville.

So the Coleraine fans headed towards the exit in fine spirits as their team earned three points away from home and their rivals were hammered 5-0. Also well done to the Coleraine support who still came in numbers in what has been a frustrating season for them and a season in where most away trips have not been happy.

Lets hope Coleraine can now go on an unbeaten run and climb up the table, as we are currently only three points of the top six.  Next game - Donegal Celtic away, Saturday 20th November.  As usual a pre match blog will be on this site. So remember to check it out and lets turn out in numbers again to support the team.

Goals from the game