Coleraine FC maintained their position at the top of the league table with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Glentoran on Friday night. The result extends their unbeaten league run to five matches, keeping them two points clear of nearest challengers Linfield. This keeps them first in the Premiership with 34 points from 13 games, a record of 11 wins, one draw, and one loss.
Cooper gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half, finishing in the 21st minute. Coleraine looked set to see out the win and claim all three points, but Glentoran's Stewart struck a late equaliser with just three minutes of normal time remaining. The visitors made a flurry of substitutions in the final quarter of the game, which ultimately paid off with the leveller.
How the match unfolded
Coleraine started brightly and were rewarded when Cooper found the net. The home side controlled large portions of the game but could not find a second goal to kill it off. Both managers turned to their benches in the second half, with Coleraine making four changes between the 62nd and 76th minutes. Glentoran's persistence was rewarded late on when Stewart pounced to snatch a share of the spoils.
They have scored 31 goals and conceded only 12 in 13 league games this season, giving them the best goal difference in the division at +19. This draw follows a run of four wins and a draw in their last five outings, including a 5-0 victory over Crusaders FC and a 3-2 win at Larne.
Attention now turns to a massive top-of-the-table clash away to Linfield on Saturday, November 7. That match at Windsor Park pits the first and second-placed teams against each other, with Coleraine looking to avenge a 3-1 home defeat to the same opponents back in September. The next fixture is the only focus for a squad determined to stay at the summit.
