Coleraine's Noel Anderson scored twice at Clandeboye Park

The Bannsiders were three up after just 15 minutes with Darren Boyce, Noel Anderson and Stephen Beatty on target.

Marty Hunter pulled one back but John Neill's first senior goal made it 4-1.

Ards scored their second before the break through a Jason Hill penalty but Anderson scored again after the break to complete Coleraine's victory.

The result was a welcome bost for Coleraine who had failed to score in three of their last four league games.

Boyce, criticised for missing chances in the Boxing Day derby defeat to Ballymena United, got the opener after just two minutes.

He cracked in a shot from just inside the box after Anderson had headed the ball back.

A 25-yard effort from Anderson beat Ards keeper Ian Lester on five minute and then Beatty netted a screamer from even further out to make it 3-0.

Hunter saw off two defenders to get a goal back on 22 minutes, but on the half hour Neill headed in after Beatty's corner had come off a defender and the woodwork.

Kyle McVey's foul on Hunter led to the Hill penalty which spun in under keeper Davy O'Hare.

Anderson swept in the final goal on 56 minutes after Anderson's cross from the left flank.