Highlights: Coleraine 3-2 Ballymena United

Stevie Crawford
BBC Sport NI contributor

Aidan Wilson headed home with five minutes to go to extend Coleraine's lead at the top of the Irish Premiership and seal a 3-2 derby win over Ballymena United in a five-goal thriller at the Showgrounds.

It was a game of two halves as Matthew Shevlin's close-range finish and a Jay Henderson screamer seemingly had the hosts well in control at the break.

But the Sky Blues responded in the second half with James Hood reducing the arrears on 54 minutes before Chris McKee drew the sides level from the spot with 10 minutes to go.

It was anyone's game after that but, much to the Bannsiders' relief, it was Wilson who won it as he headed in Ben Doherty's corner.

Wilson heads home to secure vital win for Coleraine

In a lively start Shevlin miscued in front of goal before Finley Thorndike fired wide from distance with Lewis Webb scrambling back towards his goal.

The miss didin't affect Shevlin as he was alert to finish from close range after David Walsh could only parry Henderson's low cross into his path.

The evening became even better for the hosts on 32 minutes as Henderson curled a spectacular shot from 35-yards home after Doherty's corner was only half cleared.

However, within nine minutes of the second half, Ballymena had halved the arrears as Hood ran onto McKees threaded pass to slot pass Webb.

Coleraine introduced Joel Cooper from the bench and he should have restored his side's two-goal advantage on 72 minutes but Walsh stood up well to block.

And that proved vital as just eight minutes later the visitors were level as McKee kept his cool to slot in from the penalty spot after Dylan Boyle was adjudged to have handled Sean Murray's shot.

There was still time for some late drama, though, as Coleraine found a winner on 85 minutes with Wilson nodding in from Doherty's corner.

Adam Brooks could have made it safe in stoppage time as Cooper squared the ball across the face of goal but Walsh blocked the former Crusaders man's shot.

What the managers said

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins: "It was a rollercoaster and certainly was not our best performance of the season.

"Even after the first half, we went in 2-0 at half-time and I did not think we were brilliant.

"However, there are different ways to win a game and to have the courage and bravery to go from 2-0 up, to be pegged back to 2-2 in a derby and to have the courage and bravery to go and win the game.

"The crowd were unbelievable, particularly behind the goal and we got it over the line. We should have gone on and scored a fourth. On the whole, it is a fantastic win."

Ballymena manager Oran Kearney: "Disappointing to take nothing from the game. We find ourselves in a tough position at half-time but show a lot of character to get back into the game.

"There are massive parts of our game that we are pleased with but, again, the suck-punch at the end is hard to take.

"I said it to the lads in there, if we keep doing what we are doing, we will be OK."