Coleraine count the cost after heavy defeat by HJK

UEFA Conference League HJK 5 - 0 Coleraine FT It was a costly night for Coleraine in Helsinki in more ways than one as their European adventure for this season looks to be over at the first time of asking. There was real optimism that the high-flying Bannsiders could pick up a positive result against HJK at the Bolt Arena in their first game in Europe in five years. But the 33-time Finnish champions showed their quality in front of goal scoring five times to all but make next week's return leg at Inver Park a formality. First half goals from Liam Moller and Pyry Mentu may have been harsh on the visitors but they could have no complaints after the break as Toivo Mero and a double from former Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki showed HJK's ruthlessness in front of goal. The loss of defenders Aidan Wilson and Mark Coyle to injury will be as equally concerning for Coleraine boss Ruaidhri Higgins with the new season just over three weeks away. HJK set their stall out early The Bannsiders boss handed Wilson and three other new boys - Conor McMenamin, Jay Henderson and Ben Doherty - their competitive debuts for the club, with Matthew Shevlin, Joel Cooper and Will Patching all having to make do with a spot on the bench. The hosts made their intentions known early on as Toivo Mero's curling effort from outside the box forced Ryan Schofield into a good save inside seven minutes. Five minutes later HJK made their early pressure count as Moller ran onto Lucas Lingman's threaded pass before curling a composed finish past Schofield from the angle. To their credit, Coleraine regrouped and should have levelled matters on 15 minutes as Ville Tikkanen's loose pass presented McMenamin with a great opportunity, but his first-time effort from outside the box sailed over the bar. There was more bad luck for the Bannsiders on 22 minutes as new boy Wilson limped off after picking up a knock. Substitute Kodi Lyons-Foster almost made an immediate impact getting on the end of a Ben Wylie free-kick, but the big defender slipped as he tried to get a shot away with the hosts sweeping up the danger. Dylan Boyle then fizzed an effort past the upright before another sweeping move from the hosts saw McMenamin inches away from converting Doherty's dangerous cross. It was the home side who found the target again on 32 minutes as they cut through the Coleraine rearguard with Moller squaring for Mentu to tap home from close range. It was a disastrous start to the second half for the Bannsiders as Mero latched onto a long ball a minute after the restart before coolly lobbing Schofield. Two minutes later they lost their captain to what looked like a serious injury as Coyle caught his boot on the turf and had to be helped off the pitch. Higgins summonsed the calvary with Shevlin, Cooper and Patching all readied from the bench, and they did provide more of an attacking threat. Shevlin in particular caused the home defence problems with his runs in behind and he was unfortunate to head over from close range from a Patching delivery. By that stage though it would have been merely a consolation as HJK had brought on their own star striker from the bench in Pukki and the former Premier League frontman duly delivered with two goals in as many minutes to make it a night to forget for Coleraine.