COLERAINE made it back-to-back Premiership wins after a deserved 3-0 success against Portadown...
There would only be one change to Coleraine's starting line-up from the victory at Carrick Rangers as Senan Devine was handed a start following an injury to Joel Cooper.
The Bannsiders made all the early running and made the breakthrough with just four minutes on the clock. A header inside Portadown's half was seized upon by Will Patching and he played in Matthew Shevlin who made no mistake with a precise finish.
Soon after, Patching was the architect once more as the midfielder picked up possession just outside Portadown's box and was able to pick out Ben Wylie but he was denied a goal against his former employers as Aaron McCarey made a vital interception.
In a bright start on a lovely evening at Shamrock Park, the Bannsiders had Aidan Wilson to thank as the defender was in the right place at the right time to clear Sean O'Mahoney's goal-bound effort.
On 16 minutes, Coleraine went within a matter of inches of doubling their lead when Patching this time released Ben Doherty. The full-back, who scored in last weekend's success at Carrick, hit a low shot at goal which came back off the post.
However, the pressure did yield a second for Higgins' side as Senan Devine grabbed his first of the campaign. An in-swinging corner kick delivery by Doherty met the head of the teenager and his flicked header went into the net via the post.
Just after the hour mark, Devine almost doubled his tally as he was found inside the area by Patching but his driven effort was expertly tipped over the bar by McCarey.
Both teams had sights of goal before the interval as Dylan Boyle made a vital block from James Teelan's shot, before Boyle then sent a cross into the area which saw Rob Slevin's header being tipped away by McCarey.
The second half failed to spark into life until ten minutes after the restart when Devine managed to keep the alive on the left-hand side. The midfielder cut the ball back to Shevlin who had a strike blocked by an alert Portadown defence.
On 69 minutes, Coleraine threatened again as Kane was alert to a loose ball and clipped a ball into Shevlin's feet. The striker hit a shot on goal but the marksman arrowed wide from an acute angle.
However, the Bannsiders made it 3-0 just three minutes later from the penalty spot when Shevlin was brought down by Michael Hewitt. A confident Patching stepped up and marked a fine display with a well-executed spot kick.
Portadown, who were chasing their first Premiership points of the campaign, still carried an attacking threat as Benjamin Wells' deep cross was headed wide at the back post by Lewis MacKinnon.
The final opportunity arrived at the feet of debutant Odhran McHugh who had a snapshot saved from Dean Jarvis' cut back as Coleraine ran out 3-0 winners.
PORTADOWN: McCarey, Carson, Altintop, MacKinnon, Minzamba (Chapman '46 mins), Fyfe (Wells '77 mins), O'Mahoney (Obhakhan '77 mins), Teelan (Falls '46 mins), Hewitt, Kennedy, Martins.
Subs Not Used: Barry (GK), Isamala, Creighton.
COLERAINE: Webb, Kane, Boyle (McCourt '80 mins), Patching, Shevlin (McHugh '74 mins), Wilson, Henderson (Ives '62 mins), Slevin, Devine (McMenamin '80 mins), Wylie, Doherty (Jarvis '80 mins).
Subs Not Used: Robinson (GK), McGregor.
Referee: Niall Devlin