Win sees Coleraine cut the gap on Linfield at the top

First half goals from Stewart Nixon and James McLaughlin put the Bannsiders in the driving seat, before Conor McCloskey’s second half free kick set up a tense finale.

The home side started strongly with Lyndon Kane teeing up McLaughlin inside five minutes, but he fired over.

Nixon then had a shot saved by Tuffey four minutes later as Oran Kearney’s men looked to hit the ground running early on.

But the Lurgan Blues stopper was powerless to stop the Coleraine new boy grabbing his first goal for the club on 12 minutes as McLaughlin sent him away and he finished well.

Aaron Jarvis and Nixon had chances either side of an opportunity for Jordan Jenkins midway through the half as the home side continued to dominate the action at The Showgrounds.

The second goal arrived on 34 minutes as Nixon beat the offside trap before racing in on goal.

Tuffey held him up but the wide man squared for the onrushing McLaughlin to slot home and cap a fine first half performance for the hosts.

McLaughlin and Nixon tested Tuffey again as the game headed towards the break.

Coleraine started the second half where they left off the first as Jarvis headed Glackin’s free kick back across goal, but Nixon just failed to make contact for a certain goal.

Gary Hamilton’s men got themselves a lifeline with 15 minutes to go as McCloskey fired home from a set piece.

And they almost grabbed an equaliser three minutes later as Jenkins’ cross was somehow flicked wide by Greg Moorhouse.

Glenavon centre half Colin Coates was perhaps fortunate to escape a second booking late on in the game as he brought down a Coleraine player on the halfway line as the home side threatened to break clear.

The Bannsiders saw out the game in the closing stages though and keep within touching distance of leaders Linfield.