Double joy for Coleraine as Quinn stays put

 

COLERAINE boss Marty Quinn celebrated a first victory in the Premier League this season by signing a contract for the Bannsiders this afternoon.

Quinn, who had been linked with a vacancy at Newry City, was delighted as Kyle McVey scored the only goal late in the first half.

Quinn, who has been in charge at the Showgrounds for almost six years put pen to paper immediately after the game.

Chairman of the Coleraine steering committee, Hugh Wade, said: "We are very happy Marty has agreed to stay with us.

He has been a tower of strength over the last difficult period when the club was fighting for its survival.

"We are delighted to reward him for his loyalty."The home side had the wood-work to thank after eight minutes when Paul Muir rose to head across the face of goal, past Davy O'Hare, but onto the near post.

Coleraine came into the game midway through the first half and with 22 minutes gone Stephen Carson's 25 yard free kick just dropped wide of Matthews' near post.

The Whites should have been in front just before the half hour when John Martin found himself in a good position inside the box but he delayed his shot and de-fender Ryan McLaughlin produced a vital tackle to deny him.

Deep in first half injury time Coleraine snatched the lead.

Car-son floated over a corner from the left, Stuart Bratton clipped the ball down in front of goal where McVey could hardly miss from four yards, smashing the ball into the net.

Early in the second half Distillery were again denied by the woodwork when John Martin connected with a Hagan freekick and fired the ball against the crossbar.

Ex-Coleraine striker Sean Armstrong replaced Damien McLaughlin after 65 minutes but before he had a chance to make an impact Paul Kick's men lost skipper Wayne Buchanan when he was red carded for a challenge on Carson as the winger burst through just inside the Distillery half.

It was a bad day for the Whites but a very good one for Marty Quinn and Coleraine.

COLERAINE: O'Hare, R McLaughlin, Spratt, Gaston, McVey, Beatty, Tosh, McCallum, Bratton, P McLaughlin, Carson.

Subs: Anderson, Johnston, Ferry.

LISBURN DISTILLERY: Matthews, McKeown, Thompson, Coffey, Buchanan, Muir, Martin, Hagan, Ar-mour, Murphy, McLaughlin.

Subs: Mc-Cann, Kilmartin, Armstrong.

Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon).