IRISH LEAGUE: Coleraine learn lessons as they ease to 3-1 win over Cliftonville at Solitude

CLIFTONVILLE 1 COLERAINE 3
Cliftonville striker Darren Murray and Coleraine's Ruaidhri HigginsCliftonville striker Darren Murray and Coleraine's Ruaidhri Higgins
Cliftonville striker Darren Murray and Coleraine's Ruaidhri Higgins

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney was delighted his men learned a lesson from last week after battering Cliftonville at Solitude.

Two goals ahead early on thanks to Rodney Brown and James McLaughlin, the Bannsiders – who let a similar lead slip against Linfield seven days earlier – didn’t take their foot off the gas and finally killed the Reds off when Brad Lyons stroked home after the interval.

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“We wanted a reaction from last week and we got it here,” said Kearney.

“It was the same kind of test with us going 2-0 up but we didn’t ease off or invite Cliftonville on to us. We kept at it and got our rewards.”

Brown nodded Coleraine ahead on eight minutes with McLaughlin driving home number two shortly afterwards against a stunned Reds side who had only a half-hearted James Knowles attempt to show for their less than impressive first-half efforts.

When Lyons skipped past goalkeeper Conor Devlin to make it 3-0, the writing was on the wall for the hosts, who bagged a consolation when Davy McDaid scrambled home in injury-time.

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“That’s as bad as I can remember and there were a few home truths said afterwards,” explained manager Gerard Lyttle.

“You have to be professional in everything you do and we fell way below every single standard here.”

CLIFTONVILLE: Devlin, McGovern, Ives, Flynn, Knowles, Curran, M Donnelly, Murray, Catney, Cosgrove, Hughes.

Subs: Bonner, McDaid (Murray, 55 mins), Garrett (Hughes, 55 mins), J Donnelly (Curran, 55 mins), Lavery.

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COLERAINE: Johns, Beverland, Mullan, Higgins, Ogilby, McCauley, Harkin, Brown, McLaughlin, Lyons, Kane.

Subs: Doherty, Morrow (McLaughlin, 73 mins), Watt (Lyons, 85 mins), McGonigle (Brown, 87 mins).

REFEREE: Ian McNabb (Newtownabbey)