Paul Gaston (right) scored Coleraine's opening goal

Coleraine produced a magnificent display to shock Portuguese club Uniao Leiria in Thursday's Uefa Cup qualifying round first-leg tie at the Showgrounds.

Paul Gaston hammered the ball to the roof of the Leiria net in the ninth minute to put the home side ahead.

Joao Manuel levelled for the visitors in the 42nd minute, but Rory Hamill's goal seconds before the interval earned Marty Quinn's side a famous victory.

Leiria were reduced to 10 men early in the second half as Bulgarian referee Dimitrov Dimitar sent Brazilian star Maciel packing for violent conduct just three minutes after replacing Gabriel.

Despite being a man down, Leiria pressed hard in the closing stages but a combination of brilliant defending and poor finishing thwarted the Portuguese club.

Early in the match the Portuguese club had a great chance to open the scoring, but Caico's shot was inches wide.

However, Coleraine responded instantly with midfielder Tony Gorman just missing the target.

Gaston's ninth-minute goal came after Stephen Beatty's corner from the right fell kindly for him in the box.

But only a brave blocking save from keeper Davy O'Hare stopped the visitors from snatching an equaliser within three minutes as he spread himself to deny Ludemar with an outstretched boot.

Joao Manuel celebrates his equaliser for Leiria

Coleraine escaped again 10 minutes before the break as Ludemar cut in from the right and O'Hare dashed out to dispossess him as he prepared to shoot.

It took an error in the home defence to enable Leiria to finally level, when Ian McCoosh's mistake allowed Joao Manuel to find the net from 10 yards.

Coleraine restored their advantage in injury-time at the end of the first half.

Tony Gorman's free-kick on the left was rolled short to Stephen Beatty and the midfielder's pinpoint delivery fell for Hamill, who powered a header past keeper Helton from six yards.

Beatty's immaculate left foot then delivered a stunning free-kick which flew inches past the angle of post and crossbar before O'Hare got down to smother Edson's long range ground shot moments later.

O'Hare again came to the rescue as Paulo Gomes floated a ball through the centre for Ludemar inside the penalty area, but the keeper rushed from his goal to claim possession.

With 10 minutes remaining the busy keeper dived to his right to hold Ludemar's 25-yard free-kick as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

And Ludemar should have notched a late equaliser after ghosting in behind the Coleraine defence to connect with Bilro's centre, but the striker sent his header well wide from 12 yards.

Uniao Leiria: Helton, Bilro, Gabriel, Paulo Gomes, Ludemar, Douala, Manuel, Duarte, Caico, Joao Paulo, Edson. Subs: Quievreux, Gameiro, Alhandra, Maciel, Freddy, Laranjeiro.