Bradley double and a first for Burns keeps Bannsiders in title hunt

Eoin Bradley
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 17th Feb 2018
Last updated 17th Feb 2018

By Aaron O’Neill

Coleraine narrowed the gap at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership after Friday night’s 5-2 victory over Ballinamallard United at Ferney Park.

A brace from Eoin Bradley combined with finishes from Josh Carson and Darren McCauley as well as a debut goal for Aaron Burns rounded out a perfect evening for the Bannsiders.

Coleraine started the brighter and could have gone in front early in the first-half as Jamie McGonigle’s shot crashed off the crossbar.

The home side recovered well and created a chance moments later. Stephen O’Flynn’s turn and shot evaded Chris Johns but deflected away from danger after hitting the post.

Oran Kearney’s side entered the fixture as favourites but they were to be dealt a blow in the first-half as it was Ballinamallard who took the lead.

Josh Carson upended Jonathan Leddy inside the area giving referee Lee Tavinder no option but to award a penalty. Up stepped Ryan Curran who made no mistake from 12 yards as he slammed the ball into the back of the net.

Carson redeemed himself moments later as he nodded home Coleraine’s equaliser from close range.

Darren McCauley turned the game on its head as he too got on the score sheet after his effort slipped through the clutches of Joshua Brownlee in the Mallards goal.

The scores were level before the interval. Gavin Dyke’s men were awarded another penalty on the stroke of half-time as Stephen O’Donnell brought down O’Flynn en-route to goal. Curran took the second spot kick and the striker calmly slotted home sending Chris Johns the wrong way.

Oran Kearney’s half-time message seemed to spark the visitors into life as they grabbed the lead on 47 minutes. Eoin Bradley climbed through a crowd of players to steer McCauley’s in-swinging free-kick into the net.

The Mallards had a chance of their own midway through the second-half. A searching ball picked out Ryan O’Reilly at the back post but the defender’s header drifted wide.

Coleraine controlled the game for the remainder of the second-half and grabbed a fourth goal on 78 minutes as Eoin Bradley’s well-struck free-kick left Brownlee helpless between the sticks.

The eagerly anticipated debut of Aaron Burns was one to remember for the Coleraine faithful as he grabbed a goal on his debut for the club to make it 5-2 to the Bannsiders.

Burns picked the ball up outside the area before brushing past his man before curling the ball into the bottom corner.

The result means Coleraine remain firmly on the coat-tails of Crusaders at the top of the table as the gap has now been cut to just two points.