Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BACK ON THE TOP
Coleraine hit summit after fightback
COLERAINE fought back to go top of the Danske Bank Premiership with a 3-2 win over Carrick at The Showgrounds.
Darren Henderson fired the visitors into a half-time lead before a Josh Carson brace and Aaron Burns effort put the Bannmen in control.
Michael Smith pulled one back for Rangers but Oran Kearney’s men held on to ease a point clear of Crusaders who play Warrenpoint
Town on
Monday.
Daniel Larmour hit the post for Carrick and
Coleraine spurned a golden opportunity to open the scoring when
Burns saw a 31st minute penalty well saved by Harry
Doherty.
The visitors took the lead on 37 minutes when Henderson prodded home, before Carson levelled at the start of the second period.
Coleraine took the lead on the hour through a well-worked Burns goal before Carson made it 3-1 with his second of the night on 83 minutes, rifling a first time shot past Doherty.
Smith teed up a nervy finish when he replied for Carrick two minutes later but Coleraine held on for a crucial win in the title race. secured a vital 2-1 win over top six rivals - who saw Willie Garrett red-carded at the death – at The Oval.
Curtis Allen cancelled out Cathair Friel’s early opener for the visitors but the Braidmen won it with a stunning Kofi Balmer volley 13 minutes from time.
Ballymena will secure a top six finish at the expense of Glentoran if they can beat Ballinamallard at The Showgrounds on Monday.
Ten-man secured a dramatic 2-2 draw with thanks to a late Sean Noble equaliser. The Mallards, who saw sub Josh Mcilwaine red-carded late on, led through a Ryan Curran header before the Blues hit back with a Jimmy Callacher header and Andy Waterworth
penalty.
A Jay Donnelly hat-trick secured a 3-2 win for over while beat 3-2 with two goals from Daniel Hughes and a Seanan Clucas header.