Dungannon Swifts took a major step towards securing a top six finish with a resounding 3-1 home win over title-chasing Coleraine at Stangmore Park.
First-half goals from Sean McAllister, Leo Alves and Danny Wallace gave them a commanding half-time lead and despite a James Akintunde goal shortly after the restart held on for a famous win.
The hosts were on the front foot from the off and opened the scoring after just 11 minutes.
The visitors’ defence failed to deal with Steven Scott’s long throw and Sean McAllister was quickest to react, poking the ball into the corner past Coleraine goalkeeper Ryan Schofield from near the penalty spot.
Rodney McAree’s side continued to dominate and doubled their lead midway through the opening half as Leo Alves reacted quickest to fire home from 10 yards after Schofield had saved Tiernan Kelly’s initial shot.
Incredibly, they made it 3-0 before the break and, again, the influential Alves was involved.
His corner was headed on at the near post by Adam Glenny in the direction of an unmarked Danny Wallace who blasted a volley into the corner of the net from six yards out.
Coleraine barely threatened in the opening period, Matthew Shevlin dragging his shot wide of the goal from a good position when the game remained scoreless their best opportunity.
They were thrown a lifeline five minutes after the restart when substitute Akintunde, one of four new faces introduced at half-time, rose unchallenged to head home Zane Okoro’s corner from close range.
The same player went close again, from a Ben Wylie corner, but this time he was unable to keep his header on target as the visitors upped the tempo.
The visitors huffed and puffed in the closing stages but the Swifts held on for a first win at home over Coleraine in over five years.
