Match Report 21-09-02

COLERAINE came of age on the opening day of the Peugeot 206 Senior League season when they held mighty Pegasus to a 2-2 draw at Queen's.

The Bannsiders, of course, earned promotion last season when they came through their campaign with an unbeaten record.

It's often said that one player doesn't make a team but Caryn Bentley certainly has made a difference since retruning to the club after taking time out to play in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

When I telephoned her to get the details of the game on Saturday, I prefaced my question with the words 'tell me the worst"

"What do you mean the worst - we drew two-all" was the reply as Caryn's voice seemed full of emotion at the result.

Five years ago, Coleraine had lost 13-0 to Pegasus then enter Bentley on the scene.

I remember the first time Imet her was on a balmy winter's evening during the 1997 World Cup qualifier in Harare, Zimbabwe and the look on her face when I told her of Coleraine's playing record the previous season.

It read:Played 14 won: 0 drew: 1 lost 13 goals for: 5 goals against: 100.

But Caryn turned things around full-circle and the rest is history as they say.

On Saturday I travelled to Ards Leisure Centre to watch the home side draw 3-3 with Belfast Harlequins in a rip-roaring contest.

'Quins were two goals to the good after only 15 minutes through Karen Mitchell and Lesley Ditchfield but Ards got back on level terms in the second half with goals from Ydele Steele and Rachel Hamill.

The action continued to be frenetic and 'Quins then were awarded a penalty which Mitchell duly converted but Ards equalised within 20 seconds of the push-back when Jenny Magill forced the ball home.

Meanwhile Portadown beat Ballymoney 2-1 after trailing to a Nicola McCaughern goal at the break and Irene McCaughan celebrated her debut for Ballymena with the goal that beat Randalstown 1-0 at the Antrim Forum.

But the day belonged to Coleraine and Caryn and company are still coming down to earth.