Allen nets a brace as Coleraine get off to a winning start

Oran Kearney’s men started strongly against the hosts, Howard Beverland nearly opened the scoring on 11 minutes as he latched onto a Scullion cross only to see his effort squirm past the post.

Minutes later the visitors’ pressure paid off and David Scullion was again the creator, sliding a through ball into the path of Curtis Allen, who held off a couple challenges to finish neatly into the bottom corner.

Further unconverted chances fell to the Bannsiders through Kyle McVey, playing in a midfield role, and Aaron Boyd as Moyola strugglef to get to grips with the visitors.

After a scrappy start to the second half, the Stripes gradually started to re-assert their dominance again and substitute Paul Owens featured heavily in Coleraine attacks first lobbing just over on 64 minutes and then supplying an inch-perfect cross for Ogilby’s point blank header which was somehow clawed to safety by the Moyola keeper.

Within a minute Coleraine’s lead was doubled as Allen found space on the right and delivered a cross for strike partner Boyd to glance home past the stranded Park stopper.

Other chances came and went, but the victory was rounded off on 88 minutes as Owens laid the ball into the path of the industrious Allen, who cut inside to fire a low shot from 18 yards into the corner of the Moyola net.

Coleraine: Doherty (Cullen, 46), Watt, Ogliby, Beverland, McNulty, Scullion (Owens, 64), Harkin, McVey, Canning (Glasgow, 81), Allen, Boyd.