Paddy McLaughlin feels Nathan Gartside has the potential to become the best goalkeeper in the Irish League after his heroics earned Cliftonville a place in the Irish Cup quarter-finals.
The former Derry City stopper saved three Coleraine penalties in the shootout after the game finished 2-2 following 120 pulsating minutes at Solitude.
But Gartside made another telling intervention in the second half after the Bannsiders had fought back from Rory Hale's 13th minute opener as Jack O'Mahony and a Ronan Hale own goal put the visitors in front.
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Oran Kearney's men almost grabbed a third, which would have surely killed the tie off, but Gartside denied Matthew Shevlin and McLaughlin praised the keeper for keeping his side in the game.
"I hope people don't forget about his save," said the Cliftonville boss.
"It's a big, big save and it is a defining moment of the match.
"If they score to go 3-1 up the game is over.
"To keep it at 2-1 it gave us a chance to pull it out of the fire, which we did.
"Nathan carries that on into the shootout saving three penalties.
"Week on week with every game that passes Nathan is getting better and better.
"He is more comfortable with his surroundings and the players around him.
"He has potential and is closing in on being the top keeper in this division.
"It's important he keeps building on that, and I'm glad to see him getting his rewards today because he puts in some hours with our goalkeeping coach.
"He stays behind for extra sessions and is first on the pitch before sessions, and you can see now he's starting to fulfill his potential of being a top keeper.
"I hope he gets a lot of praise and I hope he takes a lot of confidence from it."
The Reds face another all-Premiership tie in the last-eight as the hosts Dungannon Swifts, who scored two late goals to see off Knockbreda on Saturday.
"There are no easy ties when you get to the quarter-finals," said McLaughlin.
"It's cup football against Premiership opposition.
"They are a really good footballing side under Dean Shiels, who has worked incredibly hard to do well down there.
"It's going to be another difficult tie. The key thing is home advantage.
"You've seen what our boys are like at Solitude over the last year and we're selling out games here more than we ever have.
"It will be important for everyone to play their part come the game.
"It will be tough against Premiership opposition, but with our home form and the fans behind us we'll look forward to it."
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