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Allen holds key to Carrick win

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Ciaran Clarke takes on the Carrick defence in Saturday’s 4-0 win at Seaview.

IN-FORM striker Curtis Allen made it 18 goals for the season as he bagged his first Coleraine hat-trick in Saturday's 4-0 demolition of Carrick Rangers at Seaview. Allen scored twice in the opening 45 minutes and again shortly after half-time to make it a comfortable afternoon for the Bannsiders who were missing up to nine first-team players because of injury and suspension.
Carrick, too, had three players missing but it was Coleraine's greater strength in depth and extra class which proved decisive.
The home side threatened on a couple of occasions early in the game through Paul Heatley but once Gareth Tommons had opened the scoring with what looked suspiciously like a cross which deceived the Carrick keeper and ended up in the back of the net after 15 minutes there was only going to be one winner.
Coleraine played some gerat stuff in the second quarter of the first half, Scullion, Allen, McIlmoyle and Tommons at the heart of a number of slick passing moves on Seaview's artificial surface.
Carrick Rangers, without suspended skipper Davy McAlinden and featuring a makeshift defence, were always on the back foot and Allen went close to doubling the visitors' lead when his right-foot shot struck a post. The little frontman didn't have to wait too long though before celebrating as he reacted quickest to a goalkeeping error to prod home his first and Coleraine's second from close range midway through the half.
Minutes later the points were sealed when Allen scored his second. Ciaran Clarke delivered an inviting cross in from the left and the former Linfield man nipped in front of a static home defence to fire home.
Allen completed his hat-trick 15 minutes into the second half in a carbon-copy of his two previous efforts. The Carrick defence failed to deal with a Coleraine corner and Allen was in the right place at the right time to tap home from two yards out.
Soon after, job done, Allen was substituted by manager Oran Kearney to a standing ovation from the large travelling support, Colts player Shane Meenan coming on for his debut.
The remainder of the game amounted to little more than a training exercise for the Bannsiders such was their complete dominance.

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