A late Joel Cooper brace stunned Larne as Coleraine fought back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Inver Park. The result leaves the reigning champions 12 points behind the league leaders in the Premiership title race, a gap that reflects the challenge they now face from third place.
James Simpson's first-half header and a second goal five minutes after the restart had put Larne in a commanding position. The hosts had conceded just three goals in their opening seven league games, but Coleraine doubled that tally in a frantic 21-minute spell.
Cooper pulled one back on 59 minutes before Matthew Shevlin levelled the scores ten minutes later. The winner arrived with nine minutes of normal time remaining, Cooper finishing clinically to complete the turnaround. Larne substitute Kevin O'Hara had earlier rattled the crossbar with a speculative effort.
Higgins hails character
Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins praised his team's resilience after the final whistle. "The manner of the victory is the most pleasing thing," Higgins said.
Match-winner Cooper echoed his manager's sentiment. "We have a never-say-die attitude in the changing room, and we believe we have quality and a team that score goals," he said.
For Larne, the defeat is a significant setback. They now sit third in the <a href="/standings">Premiership table</a> with 19 points from eight games, having won six and lost just one. Their recent form of four wins from five was abruptly halted, a run that included a 3-0 victory away to Crusaders FC on Saturday 10 October and a 5-2 win at Carrick Rangers. Manager Gary Haveron was without influential midfielder Chris Gallagher from the <a href="/injuries">injury list</a>, and his side's defensive solidity evaporated in the second half. The loss follows a midweek penalty shootout defeat to Dundela in the County Antrim Shield.
Table tightens at the top
The three points move Coleraine six points clear at the summit, though Linfield in second have two games in hand. Larne's focus must now shift immediately to a key <a href="/fixtures">home fixture against Linfield on Tuesday</a>. That match at Inver Park pits third against second and offers a swift chance for redemption. The fixture on Tuesday 20 October is a key opportunity to close the gap on the teams above them. Larne's overall record this season shows 17 goals scored and only six conceded, giving them a strong goal difference of plus 11, but the late collapse against Coleraine will be a concern. Their next outing is a massive one, and they will need to rediscover their defensive resolve quickly to keep their championship hopes alive.
The original report is at bbc.com
