TRAVEL-WEARY REEDS GET RUDE AWAKENING

INDIAN side Reeds FC endured some travel chaos ahead of their Supercupni bow yesterday.

The tourists only arrived in Coleraine two hours before their opening game against Bertie Peacock Youths.

The players and officials had travelled from India to Manchester, and then had to get a train to Liverpool before boarding an overnight sailing to Northern Ireland.

They docked in Belfast at 6.30am yesterday morning before getting a bus to Coleraine.

Hyderabad-based Reeds are the first Indian club side to participate at the Supercupni.

And it turned into a baptism of fire for the visitors, who fell to a heavy 17-0 defeat to Bertie Peacock Youths.

Also in Group B there was an impressive 5-0 win for Greenisland against Ballinamallard United.

Meanwhile, Coleraine FC Academy got off to a winning start against Dungannon Swifts in Group A.

The North West lads claimed a 2-0 win over the Swifts to get their campaign up and running.

Elsewhere in Group A, Portadown put up a brave effort against West Ham United at the Ulster University complex before going down to a 2-1 defeat.

In Group C there was a nine-goal thriller between Irish League pair Glenavon and Glentoran.

The Glens were trailing 4-0 but produced a rousing comeback to score five unanswered goals to win 5-4.

And in the other game in the group Linfield earned an impressive 1-0 win against Scottish side St Johnstone.

SMILES BETTER Lee Stand-out player Harkin celebrates over their superb win United with his teammates CO DOWN conceded a last-minute equaliser as they were denied a big win against Newcastle United last night. John Bailie’s side led 2-1 with time...