Coleraine up to fourth after victory over Dungannon Swifts

It was a memorable night for Coleraine manager Rodney McAree after his Coleraine registered a 2-0 win over his former club Dungannon Swifts to leapfrog Glenavon into fourth in the Danske Bank Premiership.

Goals from James McLaughlin and Stephen Lowry proved enough to secure all three points for the Bannsiders at Stangmore Park.

It was the second meeting between the clubs in two weeks at it was the home side who started the brighter as Coleraine were penned back in their own half in the opening stages.

The Swifts played some attractive football but their good work was almost undone on five minutes. Defender Chris Hegarty attempted to head the ball back to Linfield loanee Alex Moore but misjudged the attempt gifting Coleraine’s Jamie McGonigle and easy route to goal. The striker looked to have bagged an opener but his attempt was thwarted by Moore.

McGonigle then turned provider for Coleraine’s opening goal on thirteen minutes. Some neat footwork allowed him to evade the challenge of a Dungannon player before racing down the right. McGonigle’s expert delivery found the advancing James McLaughlin who stretched to fire the Stripes ahead.

Seven minutes later it was two. Jamie Glackin showed some trickery on the edge of the box to open a shooting opportunity. His right footed shot forced Moore to tip the ball behind for a corner. The resulting set piece proved costly for Kris Lindsay’s men as Stephen Lowry produced an excellent turn and shot which found the top corner.

Coleraine’s second seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side with little to report by way of chances.

A well worked move from Glackin and McGonigle almost presented McLaughlin with his second of the game before the break but the latter was flagged offside and Coleraine enjoyed a healthy lead at half time.

Dungannon seemed spirited after the restart as Paul McElroy had an effort denied by a block from the visitor’s defence. The home side almost pulled a goal back via Michael Carvill in the closing minutes but his attempt drifted narrowly over the crossbar.

There was time for another chance for Coleraine before the final whistle as they mounted a counter attack almost straight away. Dean Shiels gathered the ball in midfield before releasing ex-Dungannon man Cormac Burke down the right. The winger ran towards goal before firing an effort off the underside of the crossbar.

Two nil it finished in what proved a routine night for Rodney McAree’s Coleraine who face Linfield this weekend. Kris Lindsay admitted his disappointment after the game but will be hoping that Dungannon can get back on the winning trail against Crusaders on Saturday.

Dungannon Swifts: Moore, Hegarty, Armstrong, McElroy, Teggart (Clucas 46), O'Rourke, Patton (Campbell 64), Hutchinson (Lafferty 80), Smyth, Ferrin, Carvill.

Subs: Moran, Dykes, McGinty, Gallagher.

Coleraine: Johns, Mullan, Lowry, McLaughlin (Shiels 61), Carson (Burke 34), McConaghie, McGonigle (Bradley 79), Doherty, Edgar, Glackin, King.

Subs: Doherty, O’Donnell, Parkhill, Davidson.

Referee: Jamie Robinson