Newbuildings United 2 – 5 Coleraine
International Club Friendly – July 11, 2026

Coleraine delivered a dominant attacking display to overwhelm Newbuildings United 5-2 in a lively pre-season friendly. The Bannsiders, who compete in the NIFL Premiership, showed their class against their junior opponents, racing into a commanding lead before the home side fought back briefly.

Match Overview

Playing at Newbuildings’ home ground, the visitors controlled possession from the first whistle. Coleraine’s front line, featuring a blend of first-team regulars and trialists, carved open the defence repeatedly. By halftime, the scoreboard read 4-0, with goals from Matthew Shevlin, a penalty from Lee Lynch, and two quick-fire strikes from substitute Eoin Bradley.

Second-Half Fightback

Newbuildings United refused to fold and pulled two goals back early in the second period. A neat passing move finished by striker Mark McElhinney and a deflected effort from midfielder Ryan McCready brought the gap to 4-2 and sparked hope among the home supporters. However, Coleraine reasserted control, and a late header from Jamie Glacken restored the three-goal cushion.

Key Takeaways

• Coleraine’s depth: The bench made a significant impact, with five different scorers.
• Newbuildings’ resilience: Despite the gulf in league status, the home side competed well in spells.
• Pre-season fitness: Both managers used the full squad, with the match serving as valuable preparation for the upcoming season.

The result gives Coleraine a boost ahead of their league campaign, while Newbuildings will take heart from their spirited second-half showing.