FT: Coleraine 2-2 Linfield (19:45)
Fitzpatrick glances Linfield ahead and Roscoe touches in second
Shevlin pokes home 100th Coleraine goal to reduce the deficit and Dunne heads home to level
FT: Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
That is all from us after an entertaining encounter on the north coast with Coleraine fighting back from two goals down to earn a point against Linfield.
You can read the report from the Showgrounds here.
We will be back on Friday night as Glentoran host Portadown at the Oval.
See you then!
Image source, Press EyeFT: Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran captain on BBC iPlayer
It was a game of two halves. You look at the first half, Linfield were the better team, created more opportunities and set pieces were the Achilles heel for both teams in the end.
Second half, credit to Ruaidhri Higgins, he made the changes in the right places with helped Coleraine get back in the game. The conditions took a turn for the worst and Linfield managed to hang on.
It's a good point for Linfield given the mixed run of form they have and for Coleraine, coming from two goals down and showing resolve.
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
It's all over at the Showgrounds and what a game we've witnessed.
Linfield led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Matthew Fitzpatrick and Samuel Roscoe-Byrne but Coleraine stormed back after half-time.
Matthew Shevlin netted his 100th goal for the Bannsiders 10 minutes after the restart before Charles Dunne - with his first goal for the club - levelled eight minutes from the end.
There were chances aplenty throughout the game but in the end both teams have to settle for a share of the spoils in front of a hugely appreciative Showgrounds crowd.
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
A corner for the visitors deep in added time.
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
Joel Cooper tries his luck from distance in the driving rain but his effort goes wide of the target.
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
Charles Dunne heads home at the back post to complete Coleraine's fight back from two goals down.
Charles Dunne equalises for Coleraine
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran captain on BBC iPlayer
Linfield have marshalled Cooper really well tonight, but he always has that one moment in him.
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
Three additional minutes to be played.
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
Rowan McDonald replaces Jamie Glackin.
Three minutes plus additional time to be played.
Coleraine 2-2 Linfield
Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran captain on BBC iPlayer
It's a dangerous delivery from Patching, like Coleraine in the first half, Linfield failed to deal with it, Roscoe doesn't see where Dunne is and he manages to get in there and get such an important touch.
Coleraine will feel they can go on and get a winner such has been the pattern of the second half.
Charles Dunne (82 mins)
Coleraine draw level with eight minutes on the clock.
Will Patching flights a corner deep into the Linfield penalty area.
The ball finds its way to Charles Dunne at the back post who bundles the ball over the line for his first goal for the club.
Set up for a grandstand finish.
Image source, Press EyeColeraine 1-2 Linfield
A corner to the home side.
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
That attempt on goal was Fitzpatrick's last action of the night as he is replaced by Kieran Offord with a little over 10 minutes remaining.
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
Matthew Fitzpatrick has the chance to put this game to bed.
He seizes on a Charles Dunne error midway inside the Coleraine half and races clear on goal but blazes high over the crossbar.
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
Joel Cooper with a rare sight of goal as he takes possession on the edge of the Linfield penalty area but Chris Johns makes the save.
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
Ben Hall received a yellow card for this challenge on Jamie Glackin, but could or should he have been shown a red card?
Ben Hall picks up a yellow card for Linfield
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
Ruaidhri Higgins going for broke as striker Declan McManus replaces holding midfielder Dylan Boyle.
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
Linfield's Samuel Taylor leaves the field to be replaced by Callumn Morrison for the final 20 minutes or so.
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
At the second time of asking, Matthew Shevlin prods home his 100th Coleraine goal to get his side back in the game at the Showgrounds.
Shevlin pulls one back for Coleraine
Coleraine 1-2 Linfield
Jamie Glackin, popping up on the left wing, fizzes a ball right across the face of the Linfield goal.
Unfortunately for the home side, no-one in a blue and white striped shirt is able to get on the end of the cross.
Highlights: Coleraine v Linfield
Coleraine stormed back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to grab a share of the points in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Linfield at the Showgrounds.
First-half goals from Matthew Fitzpatrick and Sam Roscoe had the visitors in a commanding position at the break.
But Matthew Shevlin and Charles Dunne struck in the second half to earn the Bannsiders a point.
The result keeps Ruaidhri Higgins' side top of the table, three points ahead of Glentoran, who have two games in hand.
Shevlin scored his 100th Coleraine goal as the hosts fought back from two goals down to earn a point
Linfield opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour thanks to Fitzpatrick's third goal of the campaign.
Much of the credit, though, goes to assist king Kirk Millar whose in-swinging free-kick was begging to be headed.
And headed it was by Fitzpatrick, who timed his run perfectly to guide the ball low past Aidan Harris and into the bottom corner of the net.
Millar almost added a second when he struck the woodwork after his corner had been cleared back to him and went close again moments later after Coleraine struggled to deal with an Ethan McGee long throw, with Millar's volley going just the wrong side of the crossbar.
A second goal duly arrived, eight minutes before half-time, and again Millar was involved.
His corner caused panic in the Coleraine defence, allowing an unmarked Roscoe to arrive late at the back post to tap into an unguarded net.
Coleraine created very little in the opening 45 minutes, their one bright moment coming when it was 1-0 as Shevlin headed Zane Okoro's clever cross straight into the arms of Linfield keeper Chris Johns.
Shevlin wasn't to be denied after the restart as he hauled the hosts back into the game 10 minutes into the second half.
Substitute Lewis McGregor did brilliantly, getting to the byeline before crossing low into the penalty area, and there was Shevlin to score at the second attempt to bring up his century of goals for the club.
Fitzpatrick passed up a great chance to put the game to bed when he blazed over the crossbar and Linfield were made to pay when the Bannsiders levelled eight minutes from time.
Will Patching delivered a corner to the back post where, after a spot of pinball, Dunne reacted quickest to poke home his first goal for the club.
Both sides passed up chances to win the game and were forced to settle for a share of the points after a thrilling match in front of a sold-out Showgrounds.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Coleraine | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 10 | 18 | 29 |
|
2 Glentoran | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 26 |
|
3 Larne | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 23 |
|
4 Linfield | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
|
5 Bangor | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 19 |
|
6 Dungannon Swifts | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 22 | -8 | 18 |
|
7 Ballymena United | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 18 | -2 | 16 |
|
8 Portadown | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 15 |
|
9 Cliftonville | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 14 |
|
10 Carrick Rangers | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 13 |
|
11 Crusaders | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 23 | -7 | 10 |
|
12 Glenavon | 13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 24 | -20 | 3 |
|
Manager: Ruaidhrà Higgins
Manager: David Healy
Manager: Ruaidhrà Higgins
Manager: David Healy
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