BANNSIDERS MAKE CARRICK PAY THE PENALTY
Three second half goals helped Coleraine kick off the New Year with victory over bottom of the table Carrick Rangers at The Showgrounds.
The first half was a largely quiet affair, although the 'Gers might well have led at the break when, just after the half-hour mark, Lyndon Kane conceded a spot-kick for bringing down Jordan Gibson inside the box but Caolan Loughran could only look on as Gareth Deane dived to his right to keep out his spot-kick.
It was a penalty at the same end early in the second half that led to the Bannsiders moving in front. Referee Ross Dunlop adjudged that Eoin Bradley had been fouled by Mark Surgenor with Ben Doherty confidently stepping up to convert past Aaron Hogg.
Coleraine pushed to double their advantage with Bradley seeing a free-kick held by Hogg and another effort falling just wide.
Michael Smith had a chance for Carrick from a Corey McMullan pass followed by a Lloyd Anderson snapshot and a Jonny Frazer volley, all of which Deane did well to keep out.
However, with four minutes to go, Coleraine did get their insurance goal when Jamie Glackin crossed to the far post for unmarked substitute Stewart Nixon to nod home.
And Oran Kearney's side made doubly sure in stoppage time. Glackin wrong footed Hogg before laying the ball off for Stephen Lowry. His shot was blocked on the line by Chris Rodgers but only as far as Bradley who tapped home from point blank range.
Coleraine: Deane, Kane, Doherty, Lowry, McLaughlin, McConaghie, Tweed, O'Donnell, Parkhill, Glackin, Traynor subs Gallagher (not used), Canning (replaced Doherty 71), Bradley (replaced Parkhill 46), Wilson (not used), Allen (not used), Nixon (replaced McLaughlin 46), Beverland (not used)
Carrick Rangers: Hogg, Neale, Surgenor, Rodgers, Loughran, Chapman, Frazer, Kelly, Smith, Gibson, Anderson subs McKinty (not used), Forsythe (not used), Gordon (not used), Cherry (not used), Glendinning (replaced Loughran 70), McMullan (replaced Gibson 68), Ramsey (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
