Coleraine back to winning ways with defeat of Portadown

Coleraine got back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 home win over bottom of the table Portadown on Friday night.

Six days after the demoralising defeat to Linfield at Windsor Park, the Bannsiders responded in positive fashion to record a first win in three games.

Jay Henderson opened the scoring for the hosts eight minutes before half-time with a wonderful individual effort.

The Scot picked the ball up midway inside the Portadown half before advancing forward and curling a low right foot shot past the despairing dive of Aaron McCarey from 25 yards.

The home side doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time thanks to former Portadown midfielder Ben Wylie.

Picked out by a sublime pass from defender Cameron Stewart, stepping into an advanced role, Wylie rounded the Ports keeper before slotting into an empty net for his first goal for the club at the Showgrounds.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ side picked up where they left off at the start of the second half and increased their advantage six minutes after the restart.

Lyndon Kane found himself in acres of space on the right wing and delivered an inviting ball across the face of goal.

Adam Brooks and Portadown defender Divin Isamala challenged for possession, the ball somehow ending up in the back of the net from a matter of yards out.

Whoever got the final touch one thing was certain: there was no way back for the visitors who offered precious little in an attacking sense all night.

Afterwards, Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins said he was pleased with his side’s performance.

“Today was about winning and reacting after last week and we did that,” he said.

“We’ve won the game convincingly but we should have scored more goals.

“I always feel as a group we react well to setbacks and, as I said, tonight was about winning.

“It’s never nice to suffer defeats in the manner we did last week so it was about erasing that feeling and that’s what we’ve done.”

Elsewhere, leaders Linfield cruised to a 3-0 away win at Ballymena United.

First half goals from Matthew Fitzpatrick, Isaac Baird and an own goal from David Toure gave the Blues a 3-0 lead which they never looked like relinquishing.

A late Carl Weatherup goal saw Glentoran get the better of a stubborn Bangor at the Oval.

Jordan Stewart had given the Glens the lead midway through the first half but Ben Cushnie levelled seven minutes from time.

However, Weatherup pounced minutes later to secure a first win for Duncan Ferguson as Glentoran manager.

Reigning league champions Larne saw off Dungannon Swifts 3-0 at Inver Park thanks to goals from Leroy Millar, Keith O’Hara and Matt Ridley.

And Limavady United ended Cliftonville’s recent winning run with a dramatic come from behind win at the Showgrounds.

Rory Hale fired the visitors in front after just 11 minutes but John Butcher levelled almost immediately.

Stephen O’Donnell popped up with what proved to be the winner - and his first goal since joining the club in the summer - just before the hour mark.

At Taylor’s Avenue, Carrick Rangers and Crusaders shared the points in a 1-1 draw, Danny Gibson’s second half goal cancelling out Harry Jewitt-White’s early effort for the visitors.

What it all means is that Linfield retain their one point advantage over Coleraine at the top of the table, both having played 16 games.

Larne are in third, 10 points behind the Blues, and nine behind the Bannsiders, having played two games less.

Glentoran remain in fourth, 14 points off the leaders, with Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers making up the rest of the top six.

At the other end, Portadown remain rooted to the foot of the table following defeat at Ballycastle Road.

They are three points adrift of the team immediately above them, Bangor, with the sides due to meet at Shamrock Park next Saturday.

Ballymena United are in 10th with Limavady United, Dungannon Swifts and Crusaders completing the bottom six.

COLERAINE: Schofield, Kane, Stewart, Cooper, Ives, Henderson (McGregor ’76 mins), Brooks, McDonald (Boyle ’57 mins), Wylie (Devine ’76 mins), Thomson (Patching ’57 mins), Dunne (Slevin ’57 mins).

Subs Not Used: Webb (GK), Shevlin.

PORTADOWN: McCarey, Isamala, Carson (Flanagan ’85 mins), Altintop, Chapman (MacKinnon ’55 mins), Fyfe (Towe ’55 mins), O’Mahoney (Wells ’77 mins), Teelan, Scott, Hewitt, Kennedy (Falls ’77 mins).

Subs Not Used: Barry (GK), Minzamba, Flanagan.

Referee: Evan Boyce