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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Steven Crawford

Cliftonville and Coleraine has the entertainment factor and the stats back it up

If you are looking for goals and excitement then there is one Irish League match-up you should keep an eye on.

Over the last two years alone Cliftonville and Coleraine have met 14 times across all competitions with 49 goals being scored averaging at 3.5 goals per game.

You have to go back to November 27, 2021 for the last time both teams failed to scored in the contest.

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There have been some classic over the last 24 months none more so than last season's BetMcLean League Cup final when the Reds battled back from two goals down to eventually claim the trophy with a 4-3 win after extra time.

The Bannsiders gained some revenge last December when they dumped the League Cup holders out of the competition after a penalty shootout following an enthralling 2-2 draw at Solitude.

A few weeks later the sides served up another 2-2 in the league and it was a similar tale in the Irish Cup on Saturday past as the teams shared four goals before Paddy McLaughlin's men won out in another penalty shootout.

Speaking after the game the Reds boss said the fans got their money's worth yet again!

"It was a typical Coleraine-Cliftonville game," he said.

"End to end, both sides not resting on their laurels and going for the kill throughout the game.

"It lived up to everything we thought it would be, goals at both ends, excitement - it was a classic cup game.

"Both sets of fans got their money's worth today as both teams emptied the tank and gave it their best shot.

"Fortunately for us we came out on the right side of a penalty shootout.

"It's not a nice way to lose a game. We know all about that having lost the League Cup semi-final that way back in December.

"So we understand how the Coleraine players will be feeling but luckily enough for us it was our turn to win, and lucky for us we had Nathan Gartside in goal."

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