The chase for Premiership survival could yet prove a little more dramatic than many Dungannon Swifts fans were hoping or indeed expecting.
A season which was meandering towards a low-key finish threatens to turn into a nervy scrap after another disappointing loss to Coleraine.
This defeat coupled with a rare win for relegation rivals Donegal Celtic has cut the gap between Dungannon and the danger zone to six points.
With DC due at Stangmore Park this weekend, a once healthy Swifts’ advantage suddenly seems significantly less secure.
A little like the defending which helped Coleraine to the points on Saturday.
Despite taking an early lead, Dungannon ended the afternoon empty-handed after goals from Gareth Tommons, Stephen Lowry and Curtis Allen.
It was a result which secured the Bannsiders’ place in the top six.
For Dungannon the main concern is simply staying amongst the elite 12 of Irish League football, and this result is a reminder that work lies ahead.
Survival is still very much in their hands, however, and a positive result at Glentoran tomorrow plus three points against DC would probably take them over the finish line.
But it will require improvement, particularly in Swifts’ defending.
They created plenty of chances on Saturday, the problem was they conceded just as many too.
And in the likes of Allen, Tommons and David Scullion – the game’s standout player – Coleraine had people capable of taking advantage.
The game started promisingly enough for Dungannon with Chris Lavery’s 25-yard drive drawing the first save from goalkeeper Michael Doherty.
And they were ahead in the 19th minute in bizarre circumstances. Matt Hazley found the net direct from a corner kick, his floated delivery catching out the entire Coleraine defence.
But if that was sloppy then so was the goal Swifts conceded just 80 seconds later.
It was all too simple for the Bannsiders as Aaron Canning was allowed to break forward and cross for the unmarked Tommons to head home.
A much-changed Dungannon side, featuring six alterations from the previous weekend’s match at Ballinamallard, responded in positive fashion.
Stefan Lavery flicked a cross on to namesake Chris but his snapshot was blocked by Doherty.
The winger had an even better chance when Michael McKerr delivered a teasing cross, but he directed his header straight at the goalkeeper.
But the game changed when Coleraine scored a second goal in the 37th minute.
Some neat build-up play saw Allen play in Lowry and, although Jonny Curran got a touch to his shot, it thundered into the top corner.
The Bannsiders could have scored a third as Tommons crossed to Allen, but his effort on the volley flashed narrowly over.
Just before the break Tommons’ header was saved by the ‘keeper. The ball reached Scullion but his effort was inadvertently blocked by Allen.
The game followed a similar pattern after half-time, with Coleraine finally adding the third goal their attacking play had been threatening.
A header from Jamie Tomelty was parried clear but, from the resulting corner, Allen was not picked up and guided the ball past Curran.
Swifts’ best chance of an equaliser fell to Stefan Lavery. A terrific run took him past two players, but his effort was turned on to the crossbar before being cleared.
Otherwise it was an all too comfortable finish for Coleraine as they cemented their place in the top half of the league.
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, McKerr, Friars, McMinn, Grieve, Brennan, Hazley, Fitzpatrick, Gawley (PJ Lavery, 57), S Lavery, C Lavery (Costello, 78)
Subs not used: O’Neill, Montgomery, Glackin
COLERAINE: Doherty, Hegarty, McVey, Scullion, Lowry, Allen, McIlmoyle, Canning, Tommons, McMullan (Harkin, 36), Tomelty
Subs not used: Boyle, Bradley, Owens, Moore
Referee: Mervyn Smyth (Belfast)