Coleraine 1-3 Linfield
Last updated on .From the section Football
Linfield stay top of the Carling Premiership after this comprehensive victory over a disappointing Coleraine.
Aaron Burns diverted a Rory Patterson shot into the net to put the Blues ahead on eight minutes after Jonny Black had failed to clear.
Robert Garrett ran unchallenged to hit Linfield's second goal on 23 minutes.
Patterson set up Mark McAllister for Linfield's third goal on 60 minutes with sub Leon Knight spectacularly replying late on for the Bannsiders.
Gareth Tommons tested Blayney on the half hour but it was a rare Coleraine attack in the first half.
Linfield looked the more committed side from the off and Burns had an early chance cleared off the line after Coleraine goalkeeper Michael Doherty had charged off his line.
The Blues took the lead on eight minutes after Michael Carvill's persistence forced a mistake from Jonny Black.
Instead of banging the ball into the stands, Black was dispossessed by Michael Carvill who found Patterson and the former Coleraine man's low shot was diverted past Doherty by Burns.
Garrett extended Linfield's lead on 23 as he ran 30 yards before beating Doherty with a low shot.
Not surprisingly, Linfield's enterprise dipped somewhat after the break but Coleraine were unable to turn possession into any serious goal attempts.
More good work by Patterson set up Linfield's third goal for McAllister on the hour.
Curtis Allen missed a half-chance for the Bannsiders before Alan Blayney made a fine double-save to deny Tommons and Stephen Lowry.
Leon Knight, unable to start following a heavy bout of 'flu, came on in the second half and he blasted in a spectacular scissor kick nine minutes from time.
