Coleraine made it back-to-back wins with a nervy 1-0 victory over Cliftonville at the Showgrounds.

Matthew Shevlin scored the game's only goal in the 13th minute, but both teams had chances to add to the goals tally in an end-to-end encounter.

Reds keeper PJ Morrison produced a number of fine saves while at the other end, Cliftonville were denied by the woodwork on two occasions.

The Bannsiders remain top of the table after the first round of fixtures while it's a fifth defeat in a row for Jim Magilton's side.

Cliftonville were first to threaten when Rory Hale forced Lewis Webb into a save inside the opening minute, but Coleraine responded to open the scoring.

Shevlin began the move, heading a long punt forward towards Jay Henderson and he then spotted the run of Joe Thomson, who was breaking into the penalty area.

The former Glentoran man showed great awareness to square the ball for Shevlin, who had the simple task of prodding home from six yards.

Ben Doherty and captain Joel Cooper went closing to doubling the home side's advantage in an entertaining opening, but they didn't have things all their own way.

Brian Healy crashed a low shot off the woodwork from the edge of the penalty area while Webb produced a number of fine saves to deny Harry Wilson and Rhyss Campbell.

Cooper had a great chance to double Coleraine's lead minutes after the restart when through one on one with Morrison, but the Cliftonville keeper did well to block the shot.

At the other end, Dean McMaster came within a whisker of equalising when his volley - after his initial free-kick had been blocked by the Coleraine defensive wall - flew narrowly wide of the post.

McMaster came closer still 10 minutes later when his clever free-kick had Lewis Webb scrambling across his goal line to gather at the second attempt as everyone expected a cross into the box.

Morrison proved his worth midway through the second half when he dived full length to his right to palm away a Cooper effort, before saving from Wylie with minutes remaining.

The visitors struck the woodwork for a second time in the game in the final minute of normal time when Shaun Leppard's towering header glanced off the top of the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins: "It's a great win for us in really difficult conditions. I thought at times we passed the ball really well and at other times we were a wee bit sloppy, but I'm delighted with the clean sheet and three points.

"I thought our goal was a brilliant goal, right from our goal kick to the other end. We worked it really well and it was a brilliant piece of play from Joe Thomson to put it on a plate for Shevy, who's in the right place at the right time.

"They're a good team, you can't forget that, and we've no God given right to beat anybody. They're well coached with good individual players so to win and keep a clean sheet is a really positive result.

"I thought we defended strongly and managed the game really well in the final 20 minutes which we're pleased about."

Cliftonville head coach Jim Magilton: "We had opportunities, both goalkeepers probably limited the opportunities, but the opportunities we did have on another day we score.

"We're obviously disappointed to come away with no points but today was a display of character and resilience from our players. You have to play to the conditions and I thought we did that.

"There are big moments that affect the game and we switched off for their goal. With their quality they counter attack very quickly and they punished us.

"After that I thought we settled into the game and hit the woodwork twice but, in terms of a display from our players, I thought it was excellent."