Dominant Bannsiders put Warrenpoint to the sword

Aaron Canning's header hits the back of the Warrenpoint to put Coleraine in front at The Showgrounds.

The Bannsiders were dominant from start to finish and now leapfrog Barry Gray’s side in the table. A first half header by Aaron Canning was just rewards for an excellent first 45 minutes.

Things got even better after the break as Eoin Bradley slotted home a penalty and Gary Browne came off the bench to wrap up the points after he was teed up by the impressive Joe McNeill on his debut.

David McDaid squandered a great opportunity with nine minutes gone after new boy McNeill had sent him clear, the striker’s dinked finish beat Jonathan Parr but also the far post.

McNeill was causing problems and he felt he should have been awarded a penalty on 15 minutes after a collision with Parr, but the referee was unmoved.

It was 20 minutes before the visitors created a decent opening. Darren King’s long ball beat Stephen Douglas, but Eugene Ferry produced a great save to deny Daniel Hughes.

Coleraine broke the deadlock seven minutes later through an unlikely source as Ruairi Harkin’s inswinging free kick was headed home by an unmarked Aaron Canning.

McNeill went close with a glancing header on 32 minutes as Warrenpoint again failed to deal with another ball into the box.

Coleraine started the second half strongly with Tommons, Bradley and McNeill all going close in the first two minutes, a combination of the woodwork and Parr denying them.

The hosts did make it 2-0 on 51 minutes as Bradley fired home from the spot after McDaid had been brought down.

Coleraine were causing a lot of problems with their attacking play and McNeill almost bundled the ball home on the hour mark after Parr had spilled Canning’s low cross.

The impressive McNeill turned provider as Coleraine added a third on 73 minutes, his run and cross set up Gary Browne for a tap in.

The Bannsiders should have made it four in the last minute as Mark Hughes pulled down Harkin in the box, but the midfielder missed from the spot.

Coleraine: Ferry, Canning, McIlmoyle (Watt 78), Beverland, Douglas, Harkin, Hegarty, McNeill (Owens 87), Tommons, McDaid, E Bradley (Browne 62).

Subs: Ogilby, J Bradley.

Goals: Canning (27), E Bradley (47), Browne (73).

Bookings: E Bradley, Canning.

Warrenpoint Town: Parr, King, Cowan (Devlin 46), D Hughes, S Hughes, McCabe, Smith (Freeman 46, Kearns 69), Bagnall, M Hughes, Moan, Boyle.

Subs: Kearns, Havern, Mulgrew.

Bookings: Cowan, D Hughes.

Referee: Mervyn Smyth.