Coleraine moved three points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership standings after a deserved 3-2 win over a gutsy Bangor at Clandeboye Park.

The hosts started brightly and took the lead early through Tiarnan Mulvenna, but Coleraine hit back to lead at half-time through Matthew Shevlin and a penalty from Will Patching.

The second half lacked the fizz of the opening period but Coleraine scored a third through Joe Thomson, before Mulvenna fired in a consolation with a fine free-kick late on.

The win sees the Bannsiders open up a three-point gap over Linfield, who have played a game less.

With just five minutes on the clock, the home side got themselves in front.

The ball was crossed by Iestyn Hughes from the right and it made its way beyond the far post where Steven McCullough kept it alive by chipping it back across goal and there was Mulvenna with the header into the bottom right-hand corner for his third goal of the season.

The Bannsiders absorbed yet more pressure from the hosts, but were back on level terms on 22 minutes.

A long ball forward from Aidan Wilson found Shevlin on the edge of the area and he directed a low shot into the goal past a stranded Gareth Deane, who was caught in no-man's land.

Coleraine almost doubled their lead soon after when Joel Cooper received the ball down the left before crossing low to the centre of the 18-yard box. Thomson shot on goal, but his effort was blocked en-route to the goal.

Then, just before the half-time whistle went, Coleraine turned the game around.

Hughes - who has been so effective in attack for Bangor - dived in on Will Patching and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Patching to slot home into the bottom right-hand corner give his side the lead.

The second period was a largely scrappy affair with few clear-cut chances, however Coleraine looked to have put the game to bed on 73 minutes.

The visitors won a corner that was expertly delivered from the left by Patching onto the head of Thomson and he guided home from six yards.

As all looked lost for the hosts, they grabbed a lifeline in the final minute of regular time and it came through a fantastic free-kick from Mulvenna.

The midfielder whipped it in from the edge of the area and it crashed off the post and into the net.

However, despite their best efforts, they couldn't find an equaliser and ended up empty-handed.

Bangor manager Lee Feeney: "I actually thought we had a chance to win this game today.

"For me, we handed them three goals today, where normally we would be defending them and doing better.

"But we competed today, they were hanging on at the end. It showed you the faith, quality and the desire we had out there."

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins: "They (Bangor) make you fight for everything.

"They are a very direct team, they put long throws in your box, free-kicks from the halfway line, they make you fight for everything.

"We weren't brilliant by any means, but the most important thing was reacting from last week and getting the three points and we did that.

"We've taken 25 points from a possible 30, which is an absolutely brilliant return and the players deserve so much credit.

"We found a way to win when we haven't played particularly well and that is really pleasing as well."