Coleraine started brightly against the pre-season favourites and went in front after only 7 minutes. Robbie Brunton curled in a wicked free kick from the wing, where the ball was met sweetly by the head of David McCallan. Coleraine continued to dominate the early exchanges, and went further ahead with one of the goals of the season. Robbie Brunton picked up the ball inside his own half and unleashed a 50 yard crossfield pass into the path of Greg O'Dowd who volleyed into the top right-hand corner of the goal to send the large visiting support into ecstacy. Coleraine continuted to dominate and almost made the game safe just before half time. David McCallan burst through a static defence and lifted his shot over the diving goalkeeper only to see John Easton clear off the line. The half time whistle brought welcome relief for the home side as the visitors received a standing ovation.

The second half was a more even affair with Coleraine happy to hold what they had earned and Linfield unable to create the chances to pull anything back. If the home side were to get back in the game, it was going to have to be by a Coleraine mistake, and the Bannsiders obliged after 70 minutes when Ollie McAuley was caught in posession and allowed Stephen McBride to score past the helpless Wes Lamont. Suddenly Linfield saw a glimmer of a chance and a spell of pressure was followed by more careless defending to present an equaliser as the ball ran free to an unmarked Paul Miller to score from close range. Coleraine's response was to send on Pat McAllister for Stephen Young and Packie had an immediate impact. On Coleraine's next attack, Conor McKeever did well to keep the ball in play by the right touchline, he swung over a cross and McAllister met it with a header that directed the ball over Collins' despairing dive. Still there was more drama to come. Deep into injury time, a Linfield attack broke down on the edge of the area and the ball rolled back towards Tony Gorman 25 yards from goal. The scene was set for a typical Gorman piledriver but Lamont followed it all the way and managed to divert the ball out of the top corner with a full length dive.

1. Wes Lamont

Wes was given a great reception by the Linfield fans on his return to Windsor Park. He didn't have many direct shots to save, and was given no chance with the goals, but the big man was commanding in the air. Did well to deflect a Tony Gorman shot out of the top corner at the end. (8)

2. Oliver McAuley

Ollie was at fault for the first goal, but otherwise had a fairly good game (7)

3. Robbie Brunton

Provided the passes for Coleraine's first and second goals. The second in particular was a magnificant pin-point delivery over 50 yards. (8)

4. Brendan Aspinall

A commanding presence in the air until the 70th minute when Linfield first breached the defence. (8)

5. Paul Gaston

Another superb display with exquisitly timed tackling and salmon-like leaping. (9)

6. Stephen Young

Goosey continues his recent rich vein of form (7)

7. Sam Shiels

Another hard-working display. With a bit more luck, Sam could have had his name on the scoresheet. (7)

8. Greg O'Dowd

A candidate for Goal of the Season capped another good display. (8)

9. David McCallan

One of Davids best performances of the season so far. Scored once, but could have had a hat-trick. (8)

10. Conor McKeever

Man of the Match. Conor is now familiar with every blade of grass in the National Stadium. Phenominal workrate coupled with a delicate touch and awareness of his team-mates' positions. Have we stolen another gem from Portadown Reserves? (9)

11. Jon Forsburg

A mystery. Jon was substituted immediately after Coleraine's second goal. The were no signs of injury, so it can only be assumed that it was a tactical move. Up to that point he had hardly been involved at all. (5)

sub Johnny McIvor (for Forsburg)

Provided the width that was necessary to balance that offered by Greg O'Dowd. (7)

sub Pat McAllister (for O'Dowd)

Surprisingly left out in preferecce to Young and McKeever, but came off the bench at just the right time to add fresh impetus to the midfield and score the winner (8)