COLERAINE took the derby day spoils after edging out Ballymena United in a five-goal thriller at The Showgrounds...

Ruaidhri Higgins kept faith with the same starting eleven for the third game running and he watched his side threaten first when Matthew Shevlin was unable to make contact with Aidan Wilson's flick-on from close range.

Ballymena travelled to The Showgrounds after a 2-2 draw at Bangor last time out and their first sight of goal saw Finley Thorndike's attempted lob from all of 30 yards sail wide of the far post.

However, Coleraine grabbed the lead on 12 minutes as Shevlin became the club's fifth highest goalscorer in history. A ball over the United defence by Lyndon Kane was kept alive by Jay Henderson and after his driven cross was parried by David Walsh, a grateful Shevlin was in the right place at the right time to slam home.

On 19 minutes, the Bannsiders blew a sigh of relief as Thorndike had the vision to pick out James Hood inside the box. The midfielder took a neat first touch but he was unable to steer his attempt from 12 yards into the net.

Henderson had a dream seven days last week after netting a treble in the North-West Senior Cup triumph against Dergview and then against Crusaders - and he added to that tally in fine style. A cleared set-piece by the visitors landed at the feet of the winger and his thunderous drive from 30 yards sailed into the net.

The last meaningful chance of the opening 45 minutes landed at the boot of Success Edogun but his low effort from just outside the box fizzed the wrong side of the post.

After seeing shots from Chris McKee and David Toure going over the crossbar, the Braidmen grabbed a goal back on 54 minutes. A pass by Chris McKee picked out the run of Hood and he was able to send his effort into the back of the net.

Higgins elected to bring on Joel Cooper and this brought a spark back into the Bannsiders' attack. He first had a thunderous drive tipped around the post before the custodian then saved with his body after the attacker ran through on goal.

However, the goals kept on coming as the Sky Blues drew level on 80 minutes via a spot kick. Referee Tim Marshall awarded the penalty after adjudging that midfielder Dylan Boyle handled Sean Murray's effort inside the box, with McKee dispatching from 12 yards.

But the drama didn't stop there as Coleraine managed to find a late winner in front of the Railway End. An accurate delivery by Ben Doherty was met by the head of Aidan Wilson who powered home a header for his first Coleraine goal.