Coleraine 3 Glenavon 2 aet
90 minutes, 2-2
Wilkinson Sword League Cup Second Round
Tuesday 13 August 1996
A dramatic cup-tie saw Coleraine improve as the game went on, eventually sealing victory with a last minute winner. The fist half was controlled by the visitors, with Coleraine restricted to a Surgeon header from a Doherty cross and a couple of tame efforts from Shiels and McCallan. In response, Glenavon opened the scoring then a mix-up between Lamont, Aspinall and Brunton persented the ball to Williamson who set up Glenn Ferguson to score. Coleraine looked a different side after the interval, and made the breakthrough when Micheal Surgeon burst through on the left hand side, pulling the ball back for Sam Shiels to score. Glenavon replied within 10 minutes as Coleraine's defence again presented the visitors with a glorious opportunity from which Ferguson glanced in Lee Doherty's shot. Coleraine now took control of the game, and from a short corner by McIvor, Doherty swept the ball acros for Shiels to leap like a salmon to divert the ball past the despairing O'Neill. Extra time followed a delay while incompetant referee Ferry insisted on the repainting of the far touchline. Eventually, the game restarted and Glenavon appeared to have settled for a shoot out. The loathed penalty lottery loomed large when Surgeon's magnificant crossfield ball sprung the offside trap for McIvor and Ramage to run clear. McIvor collected the pass, and placed the ball to the side of the keeper and in off the upright.

Euphoria!

Nigel Best was seen to cry - but what's new?

1. Wesley Lamont
Partially at fault for the first goal, but otherwise sound. Picked up a yellow card for handball. (6)
2. Oliver McAuley
Had an excellent game. I'm reliably informed that has has played better in the past, but I missed that game. (8)
3. Robbie Brunton
Had a quiet game, but looked useful coming forward. (7)
4. Brendan Aspinall
Still hasn't really settled into the defence. Heavily implicated in the mix-up which presented Glenavon's first goal. Booked for a heavy challenge, and was withdrawn with an injury (6)
5. Paul Gaston
A strong defensive performance despite picking up a shoulder injury in the first half. (7)
6. Eamon Doherty
Another excellent performance and he must surely have impressed the watching scout from Manchester City (8)
7. Sam Shiels
Man of the Match. Two great goals and tireless running off the ball (9)
8. Greg O'Dowd
Another good game, but tired before being withdrawn. (7)
9. David McCallan
Overshadowed by his strike partner. Needs a goal to kick-start his season. (6)
10. Pat McAllister
Inspired by the captain's armband - was booked early doors but didn't let this affect his tussle with the niggly Lee Doherty. (7)
11. Michael Surgeon
Another fine performance from the resurgent dynamo. At this rate he will soon become an automatic choice. (8)
sub Johnny McIvor (for O'Dowd)
McIvor was instrumental in the victory, being involved in the incident which earned the corner for the second goal, and providing a clinical finish for the last-gasp winner.(8)
sub Andy Ramage (for Brunton)
Mario worked hard and provided fresh impetus in the midfield area (7)