Gareth Tommons scored one and set up two for Darren Boyce as Coleraine edged a first-leg win at Solitude in the Co-operative Cup quarter-finals.

Cliftonville went ahead early on when George McMullan sent Chris Scannell through to shoot past Davy O'Hare.

Boyce got a 33rd-minute equaliser and then Tommons headed the Bannsiders into the lead before crossing for Boyce to net a sweet third for Coleraine.

Cliftonville gave themselves hope when McMullan scored a fine free-kick.

Cliftonville boss Eddie Patterson will not be happy with the home side's defending for the second goal as Tommons was allowed to head in unopposed from Stephen Carson's cross.

And when Tommons played the ball in for Boyce to fire in his second in the 71st minute, David Platt's men looked set fair for a last four spot.

But McMullan's free-kick over the wall on 84 minutes means the north Belfast side are still very much in it for the second leg at Ballycastle Road on 15 December.

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