Cooper to the fore as efficient Bannsiders go top

As has been the case on so many occasions, Joel Cooper popped up with an important goal to steer Coleraine to victory on Saturday.Cooper kept his cool to net the opener on 56 minutes in a hard-fought 2-0 win for the Bannsiders against a stubborn Carrick Rangers side on a difficult playing surface at Taylors Avenue.The 30-year-old, who has been handed the captain's armband by Ruaidhri Higgins in the absence of the injured Mark Coyle, was quiet for much of the contest, but made a telling contribut