Crusaders 4-2 Coleraine

David Cushley scored a goal of the season contender as Crusaders held off Coleraine to win 4-2 at Seaview.

The visitors started well and utterly dominated the first half with Jamie McGonigle twice finding himself unable to beat Crues keeper Sean O'Neill in one-on-one situations.

James McLaughlin also went close when he nearly diverted McGonigle's shot into the net, and centre back Gareth McConaghie saw a header cleared off the line by Rory Hale.

Despite spending almost 45 minutes on the back-foot, it was the home side who took the lead just before the break. A rare Crusaders corner worked its way through to Colin Coates, who hammered a left-shooted shot into the bottom corner from 8 yards.

8 minutes into the second half, it was Cushley's moment of magic that sent the home side into a commanding lead.

The forward took a long pass, controlled it with his chest, and lashed a curling, dipping right-footed volley into the top corner from 25 yards.

The goals stunned a Coleraine side that had been in almsot total control, and Crusaders ramped up the pressure to quickly score a third. Just before the hour BJ Burns whipped in a cross from the right, and Cushley got ahead of his marker to head into the bottom corner.

Coleraine finally scored a goal their good play deserved, with centre-back Dylan King thumping home a 65th minute header from McLaughlin's left wing cross.

With 77 played, Coates hauled down Coleraine sub Eoin Bradley to concede a penalty which was planted confidently into the corner by McGonigle to set up a tense finish for the home side.

10 minutes later, Crusaders made sure of the points when replacement Ronan Hale smashed a fourth goal after being played in behind the Bannsiders' defence.