BANNSIDERS KNOCK THREE PAST BLUES
Coleraine hit three second half goals to defeat Linfield at The Showgrounds.
In what proved to be a low key first half in front of goal scoring opportunities proved to be somewhat in short supply.
Indeed, neither keeper was tested in the opening quarter-of-an-hour or so until a Kirk Millar cross from the right bypassed the home defence as Darragh McBrien ran onto the ball only to see his effort parried to safety by Coleraine keeper Rory Brown.
Linfield threatened again a few minutes after that when Kyle McClean evaded a couple of tackles before sending a well taken driven effort just past the far post.
Coleraine perhaps came closest in the latter stages of the half after a Jamie McGonigle cross was only headed clear as far as Lyndon Kane on the edge of the area but he wasn't able to keep his subsequent volley from sailing over.
The Bannsiders almost moved in front seven minutes into the second half only for Conor McKendry to see his shot from the edge of the area come back off the woodwork with David Walsh beaten.
But Oran Kearney's side did seize the advantage on 66 minutes, with Matthew Shevlin heading from six yards after Walsh had misjudged a Jamie Glackin corner.
And Coleraine doubled their lead ten minutes after that. On this occasion Kane provided the low cross into the box for McGonigle to direct towards goal amid Linfield claims that the ball hadn't crossed the line.
Then, with six minutes remaining, the game was settled as a contest when McKendry sent an inswinging free-kick in from the right with the ball bypassing everyone on it's way into the net.
Coleraine: Brown, Kane, D. Jarvis, Kelly, McKendry, Lowry, Shevlin, O'Donnell, Glackin, Scott, McGonigle subs Gallagher, A. Jarvis, McDaid, Farren, Lynch, Cole, Scott
Linfield: Walsh, Finlayson, East, Shields, Millar, McClean, McBrien, Clarke, McKee, Mulgrew, McGee subs Wilkins, Fitzpatrick, McCullough, Annett, Archer, Doherty, Graham
Substitution 
Substitution 
