Coleraine 1

Cliftonville 0

At Coleraine Showgrounds 

CLIFTONVILLE suffered their fifth defeat on the spin despite a spirited showing in their 1-0 defeat to Coleraine at the Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.

Matthew Shevlin’s 13th minute strike proved the difference at the conclusion in a game where the Reds were twice denied by the woodwork with Brian Healy striking the post minutes after Shevlin’s opener and Shaun Leppard heading against the bar in the closing stages.

PJ Morrison was also in fine form, denying Joel Cooper on a few occasions after the break, though the Solitude side's slide in results continued to the frustration of boss Jim Magilton who felt his side competed really well outside of the sloppy goal they conceded.

“Conditions were tough for both teams in the first half and second half,” Magilton acknowledged.

“I thought we competed really, really well. It was a sloppy, poor goal, other than that we created good opportunities but just didn’t take them.

“On another day again, once you take them you have a platform to play from so coming up here against the league leaders, I thought we presented ourselves. I thought we showed lots of character and the players deserve immense credit.

“It was difficult out there but the second half we were camped in their half, we had not enough opportunities but both keepers were limited. Delighted with it [the performance] but obviously extremely disappointed with the result."

Magilton made two changes to the side that started last weekend's defeat to Ballymena United. Paul Stanfield dropped out through suspension as Shaun Leppard partnered Kyle McClelland in the centre of defence and Harry Wilson returned for the first time since the end of August, replacing Joel Thompson.

Cliftonville carved out a half chance from kick off when a long punt forward saw the ball drop to Rory Hale whose low shot was easily smothered by Lewis Webb in the Coleraine goal.

At the other end Will Patching whipped in a free kick that PJ Morrison missed, but the ball flashed past the near post.

Joel Cooper then lined up a shot that the Reds shot-stopper was firmly behind ahead of the Bannsiders making the breakthrough in the 13th minute.

Scorer of the goal Matthew Shevlin was instrumental in the build-up, nodding the ball down to Jay Henderson who in turn found Joe Thompson. The former Glentoran midfielder drove forward and into the box, squaring to Shevlin to apply the simplest of finishes and make it 1-0.

Cliftonville should have replied instantly after Brian Healy played a one-two with Ben Quinn and rattled the post with a low curling shot.

Shevlin missed the chance to double his tally after combining with Ben Doherty and sliding a shot past the target.

Another chance for the visitors went a-begging after Healy’s shot was blocked and the ball ricocheted to Harry Wilson whose strike was held by Webb.

Former Bannsider Rhyss Campbell set off on a dangerous run and his shot cannoned behind off Rob Slevin, with a couple of corners in the aftermath eventually coming to nothing.

A curling Joel Cooper shot flashed past the post and Ben Doherty blazed over from a Dylan Boyle pass as Shevlin’s goal proved the difference at the break.

Coleraine almost doubled their lead a few minutes after the break. Ben Doherty played a fine ball over the top that Joel Cooper latched onto and his shot drew a smart save from PJ Morrison.

A free-kick in Dean McMaster territory was blocked and the Scottish native quickly shot the follow-up goalwards and just inches away from finding the net.

Joe Thompson blasted over from Ben Wylie’s cutback before the hour mark and McMaster attempted to catch out Webb from a free-kick, though the Coleraine keeper hurried across to deal with the speculative effort.

Another fine save from PJ Morrison denied Cooper with the game still very much in the balance.

Substitute Ben Wylie let fly with a low snapshot that Morrison clawed behind for a corner late on.

Cliftonville could have made the Bannsiders pay when Rory Hale tried his luck from 30-yards with a shot that Lewis Webb tipped over at the expense of a corner.

Hale whipped in the subsequent set-piece and Shaun Leppard met it with his goal-bound header clipping the bar on its way over.

Despite their late pressure, Jim Magilton's side were unable to find an equaliser and fell to a fifth straight defeat.

COLERAINE: Webb, Wilson, Stewart, Slevin (Kane 55’), Doherty, Patching (Devine 89’), Boyle (Ives 84’), Thompson, Cooper, Henderson (Wylie 55’), Shevlin.

CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison, Samuels (Conlon 63’), Leppard, McClelland, Bannon, Wilson (Murray 84’), Hale, McMaster, Quinn (McStravick 63’), Healy (Gormley 84’), Campbell (Sheridan 70’).

REFEREE: Tony Clarke