Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ALLEN TO THE FOUR
Strikers second double in two games boosts Coleraine’s title bid
CURTIS ALLEN followed up his two goals at Carrick Rangers in midweek with another brace at the weekend as Coleraine moved within five points of leaders Linfield.
The 33-year-old’s goals saw Oran
Kearney’s men leap-frog both
Crusaders and
Larne to go into second place in the table – a position that Bannsiders goalkeeper Gareth Deane (circled) believes puts them in a great position to stay in contention for the title.
The former Windsor Park stopper, who joined Oran Kearney’s side in the summer, believes that the level of expectation at Coleraine is on the same par as at Linfield and he feels priveliged to be playing his part in the club’s attempt to challenge for the Gibson Cup.
“I left Linfield where there was a massive expectation to win trophies but I’ve come here and there’s a similar level of expectation. “I know what winning the title would mean to Coleraine and playing in this team and for this manager is a privilege for me. Everyone wants to play for him.”
Coleraine’s win aside, the other four games played on Saturday saw victories for the aways teams, with Cliftonville, Ballymena Untited, Glenavon and Glentoran all winning on the road.
Allen 10, 19 30 2 1
GARETH Deane believes Coleraine have the drive and desire to stay in the title race after climbing to second in the table behind his former club Linfield.
Curtis Allen’s early penalty box double - his second brace in a week - saw the Bannsiders extend their unbeaten run to 12 games.
It also eased Oran Kearney’s men above Larne who drop to third and to within five points of Linfield who are chasing a third successive Gibson Cup.
Deane, who joined Coleraine from Linfield in the summer, says it’s a “privilege” to be part of a title charge under inspirational boss Kearney.
The 26-year-old is also determined Coleraine don’t waste a golden opportunity to chase down the North West club’s first Gibson Cup since 1974.
“It was a big win against Warrenpoint, but the boys are hungry to kick on now, keep picking up points and climbing the table,” he said.
“I left Linfield where there was a massive expectation to win trophies but I’ve come here and there’s a similar level of expectation.
“I know what winning the title would mean to Coleraine and playing in this team and for this manager (circled) is a privilege for me. Everyone wants to play for him.
“The boys are hungry to win the Gibson Cup, but we can’t look too far ahead. We have to keep ticking the games off and see where we are come the end of the season.”
Allen rifled home an Ian Parkhill cross to edge Coleraine ahead on 11 minutes, before the seasoned marksman added a second with a spin and shot eight minutes later.
The second, a ruthless finish into the roof of the net, was a trademark finish from Allen and his 50th for Coleraine across two spells with the club.
Francis Mccaffrey gave Town hope with a low finish before the break, before Deane made a superb triple save to deny Adam Carroll and Brandon Doyle in the second half.
“I’m a bit annoyed not keeping a clean sheet, but it was an important save to deny them an equaliser and I’m glad it helped us get a big three points,” said Deane.
On stringing an impressive 12 game unbeaten run together after languishing in the lower half of the table in November, he said: “I think it shows the character in the changing room.
“Where we were back in October and November wasn’t ideal and it’s not where we want to be as a club, but we’ve knuckled down and got the basics right.
“The boys up top are chipping in with important goals and we’ve not been conceding too many either. We’ve managed to keep things tight at the back.
“I think last week’s 0-0 draw at Linfield was the first time the Blues have failed to score at Windsor
Park in the league