Ports put to the sword

Coleraine kept pace with the leading pack with a thumping 4-1 win over Portadown at The Showgrounds on Saturday.

The league’s bottom club shocked their hosts with a Gregory Moorhouse goal in the 12th minute but first half goals from Rodney Brown, Matthew Shevlin and Conor McKendry had the Bannsiders in an unassailable lead at the break.

Michael McCrudden made it 4-1 just after the hour to complete the comeback and make it 11 games unbeaten for Oran Kearney’s men.

NIall Currie’s new-look side started positively and silenced the home crowd by taking an unlikely lead after just 12 minutes.

Hesitation in a new-look Coleraine defence was seized upon by Gregory Moorhouse who nipped in to score past Marty Gallagher.

The Bannsiders responded positively, though, and levelled midway through the half when defender Rodney Brown volleyed home from close range after a jinking run and cross from Conor McKendry.

McKendry was again involved as Coleraine took the lead in the 36th minute, this time top scorer Matthew Shevlin capitalising on his trickery to sweep home his 14th league goal of the season.

And the little winger got the goal his first half performance deserved when he tapped in at the back post following a pin point cross from Jamie Glackin on the stroke of half-time.

A fourth goal, Michael McCrudden’s third in as many games, less than ten minutes after the restart completed the scoring and another miserable afternoon for Niall Currie’s side.

They remain rooted to the foot of the table while the buoyant Bannsiders remain in fifth place, albeit just six points behind leaders Cliftonville.

Their meeting at Solitude next Saturday should be a cracker.

COLERAINE: Gallagher, Kane, D. Jarvis, Brown, McKendry (Scott ’72 mins), McCrudden (O’Mahony ’72 mins), Carson, Farren, Glackin (A. Jarvis ’84 mins), McDermott, Shevlin (Fyfe ’72 mins).

Subs Not Used: Deane (GK), Mullan, McLaughlin.

PORTADOWN: Barr, Upton (McNally ’68 mins), Wilson (Russell ’84 mins), McKeown, Moorhouse (Igiehon ’68 mins), Chapman, Teggart (Balde ’56 mins), Jordan, Rodgers, McCawl, McElroy.

Subs Not Used: McKenna (GK), Stedman, Mitchell.

Referee: Steven Gregg