It was very much a game of two halves tonight as champions Linfield and title-hopefuls Coleraine played out a 2-2 draw at The Showgrounds.
Following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Ballymena United at Windsor Park, Blues boss David Healy made one change with Ethan McGee coming into the team in place of Kieran Offord in a 5-4-1. David Healy’s gameplan worked a treat in the first half as the Blues put in their best 45 minutes in quite a while.
The Blues’ setup really stifled the Bannsiders in the first half, with much of the play coming in Linfield’s attacking third. After a couple of long throws and set-pieces, the Blues took the lead after 15 minutes when Matthew Fitzpatrick met Kirk Millar’s left-wing free-kick delivery with a glancing header which found the far corner for the striker’s sixth goal of the season
Coleraine only had one chance in the first half, but it was a good one a few minutes after Linfield took the lead, as a quick break saw a cross come in from the right for striker Matthew Shevlin who was in space in the middle, however his free header was straight at former teammate Chris Johns.
Buoyed by their opening goal, Linfield pushed on and Fitzpatrick almost struck again as he expertly controlled Chris Johns’ goalkick to spin Coleraine defender Charles Dunne before his effort was crucially blocked.
The Blues will wonder how they didn’t double their lead on 25 minutes. With Coleraine unable to clear a corner, the ball came back out to Kirk Millar who clipped a cross to the back post where Ethan McGee stooped to head it from a yard out, but the ball somehow didn’t end up in the net as the ball came back off the post.
A short time later, roles were reversed as McGee crossed from the left and, after it was headed on by Ben Hall, Kirk Millar retrieved it at the back post before firing over a volley.
The second goal finally arrived on 37 minutes with Millar involved again as his corner beat the goalkeeper and was touched over the line by Sam Roscoe at the back post. It was nothing less than the Blues deserved. They looked like scoring every time they attacked.
However, with Sam Roscoe still on a high from doubling the Blues’ lead, the big central defender really ought to have scored again three minutes later to potentially put the game to bed. Coleraine’s young goalkeeper Aidan Harris on loan from Newcastle United was visibly struggling as he spilled an effort from the left, but Roscoe blazed over from a few yards out with the goal at his mercy.
The Blues entered the interval with a two-goal lead but on the balance of play and chances created, there must have been some regret that the lead wasn’t a bigger one against a team who had the quality to get themselves back into the game in the second half.
HT: COLERAINE 0-2 LINFIELD
The second half was a different tale as changes of shape and personnel got Coleraine back into it. At half-time Ruaidhri Higgins made two changes – Lyons-Foster replaced Cameron Stewart who’d been struggling to deal with Matthew Fitzpatrick’s physicality, and Lyndon Kane replaced Dean Jarvis.
Then, on 53 minutes, Coleraine made a further change as young Scottish winger Lewis McGregor replaced American forward Zane Okoro who’s on loan from Lincoln City. This change paid off within two minutes as McGregor got down the right flank and put in a cross which, with a bit of fortune, found its way through to Matthew Shevlin who scored at close range in the 55th minute for his 100th Coleraine goal.
With their tails up, Coleraine had a good chance to equalise a few minutes later when Cooper’s cross from the right picked out Glackin on the penalty spot, but he volleyed over when he’ll feel he should have scored.
The Blues were forced into a change on the hour-mark as Kirk Millar picked up a knock which was a blow as the winger was playing brilliantly. He was replaced by Josh Archer in an attempt to regain control as Coleraine were well on top.
The Bannsiders continued to dominate as Levi Ives’ free-kick from the left was met by Matthew Shevlin, with the former Linfield striker’s glancing header going narrowly wide of the far post.
Matthew Fitzpatrick led the line to great effect for the Blues and he almost scored with his last involvement before being replaced by Kieran Offord on 76 minutes. The striker broke in a 1v1 against Lyons-Foster, pulling the trigger with a well-struck shot from 20 yards which flashed just over the bar.
Coleraine then drew level on 82 minutes. Linfield will be disappointed as the ball seemed to hit Coleraine attacker McManus last when Hall made a clearance, but a corner was given and the Bannsiders scored from it as Charles Dunne rose at the back post to head in.
The late stages of the game were played in unrelenting rainfall and a tricky wind. Coleraine believed they could go on and win it, but Linfield defended a few corners as it finished all square.
This result means Linfield remain 9 points off the Bannsiders who have played three matches more than the Blues. The teams meet again at Windsor Park next week on Saturday 8 November, but Linfield’s immediate focus is a tough trip to Solitude this Sunday.
FT: COLERAINE 2-2 LINFIELD
COLERAINE: Aidan Harris (GK), Cameron Stewart (Lyndon Kane 45’), Charles Dunne, Levi Ives, Dean Jarvis (Kodi Lyons-Foster 45’), Dylan Boyle (Declan McManus 74’), Will Patching, Jamie Glackin (Rowan McDonald 87’), Zane Okoro (Lewis McGregor 53’), Joel Cooper, Matthew Shevlin
Unused subs: Lewis Webb (GK), Adam Long
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Sean Brown, Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe, Ethan McGee, Isaac Baird, Kyle McClean, Sam Taylor (Callumn Morrison 72’), Kirk Millar (Josh Archer 60’), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Kieran Offord 76’)
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Dane McCullough, Charlie Allen, Matt Yates
Yellow card(s): Ben Hall
Referee: Shane Andrews