JOEL Cooper hammered a hat-trick for Coleraine in a 5-1 win over Glenavon at the Showgrounds – then warned that the league leaders will get even better.
The Bannsiders moved three points clear of Glentoran at the top – having played two games more – thanks to that 5-1 success, Cooper the star turn with a goal befiore the break followed by one early in the second half ahead of completing his treble in the 86th minute, an effort that made it 5-0.
Basement side Glenavon grabbed a spectacular 40-yard consolation through Paul McGovern. Coleraine’s other goals came from Matthew Shevlin on 78 minutes and Levi Ives in the 84th minute. Michael O’Connor’s strugglers also had goalkeeper Mark Byrne red carded at 3-0 down for a challenge on Cooper.
And although pleased with the result and performance, Cooper – who departed Linfield for Coleraine in the summer – is sure the Bannsiders are yet to realise their full potential.
Cooper said: “We have so many players who can play in different positions so we can rotate into different areas. We have really good players who can pick out passes. We are still learning each other’s games but we are definitely moving in the right direction.
“Glenavon are a tough side so to win so convincingly was pleasing. Glenavon were very organised in the first half but we played a bit quicker after the break.”
Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree revealed a half-time “kick up the backside’ was required to inspire a 2-0 victory over second-bottom Crusaders at Stangmore Park, a result which takes the Irish Cup holders up to fourth in the table, a spectacular rise given their poor form at the start of the season.
Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe made the breakthrough on 70 minutes before substitute Andrew Mitchell wrapped up the points with a goal in the 86th minute.
McAree said: “There was a bit of a kick up the backside needed at half time. We needed to play with a bit more urgency and put the opposition under more pressure. We started the second half well and could have scored more goals.
“We now have a bit of momentum going into a difficult run of games.”
Reflecting on his team’s rise up the table, McAree said: “Things went against us at the start of the season and we started to worry about it when we should have just got the heads down and worked harder. We probably didn’t run enough at the start of the season, which sounds crazy.
“Winning and losing are both a habit and thankfully we have turned the corner and hopefully we’ll keep it going.”
Cliftonville host champions Linfield on Sunday (3pm).
On Friday night, Glentoran edged Portadown 2-1 at the Oval, while Carrick Rangers stunned Bangor in a 1-0 smash-and-grab at Clandeboye Park.
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