The striker, who has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with the Glens, opened the scoring on 22 minutes when he withheld the challenge of Paul Leeman to deliver the ball into an unguarded net.

He doubled up seven minutes from the break with a close range finish after Stephen Carson had pulled the ball back.

But the Glens reduced the arrears six minutes later when Ciaran Martyn - on his debut - found the net from just a few yards out.

And the visitors levelled nine minutes into the second half courtesy of a low Johnny Black free-kick from the edge of the area which beat the unsighted Davy O'Hare.

The game swung back in Coleraine's favour, however, a couple of minutes later after Marc Mukendi provided an inch perfect cross for Patterson to nod home.

Then, on 83 minutes, Jody Tolan made the most of his experience to race onto a Patterson pass and calmly slot the ball beyond James Taylor for Coleraine's fourth.

The Bannsiders had to endure a nervy finish, though, when Andy Waterworth grabbed an injury time third for Glentoran from close range - but there was no time left for Alan McDonald's side to craft what would have been a sensational equaliser.