The Bannsiders came back from 2-0 down to claim three precious points in this season's title race

BOYLE Sports Irish Premiership: Larne 2 Coleraine 3

Joel Cooper was the two-goal hero for Coleraine as the Bannsiders came back from 2-0 down at Inver Park to win three precious points in this season's title race.

Reigning Champions Larne were two goals to the good thanks to James Simpson's brace, but the the visitors roared back in the final half hour thanks to Cooper's brace, which came either side of Matthew Shevlin's headed equaliser.

It leaves Ruaidhrí Higgins' men six points clear ahead of today's action, although both Linfield and Larne both have games in hand.

The opening goal came two minutes from what was a super move from Haveron's men.

After a patient period of play, defender Dan Bent lofted the ball down the right flank for Tomas Cosgrove. He took a strong touch which took the ball into the path of Paul O'Neill and the striker was alert enough to backheel the ball into the path of Cosgrove and he squared for James Simpson to tap the ball home.

With the previous meeting between the sides this season, at the Showgrounds, finishing 0-0 it was the first goal scored between what is likely to be two of the title rivals this campaign.

Larne were troubling their visitors with a ball in behind their backline in the early exchanges, but gradually the Bannsiders began to see more of the ball and dictate proceedings the middle of the park.

Haveron's men were dangerous when they tested Coleraine with a ball in the air and they were almost in just after the half hour when the ball ran agonisingly away from Paul O'Neill on the edge of the box.

The second of the night arrived five minutes into the second half out of seemingly little danger.

Defender Bent carried the ball out of defence before playing a one-two with Leory Millar to take him towards the corner flag.

The Gibraltar international then had the presence of mind to square the ball to Simpson and, with too much time for a Coleraine perspective, he coolly slotted the ball into the net via the far post.

Coleraine boss Higgins looked to his bench with the introduction of Rowan McDonald and Levi Ives.

However, they almost found themselves three down, but goalkeeper Webb denied Dylan Sloan with a fine save down to his right.

Coleraine were back in the contest on the hour mark, in a move started and finished by Joel Cooper.

The former Linfield man released Ben Doherty down the left and he dinked a cross into the middle where Matthew Shevlin saw his effort blocked, but it feel to the alert Cooper and he made no mistake to sweep the ball home from 12 yards and make it game on.

The momentum wasn't fully with Coleraine, however, and Leroy Millar swept the ball just wide of the far post from a Kevin O'Hara.

However, they level with another surge down the left flank on 69 minutes.

Once more Ben Doherty had the time to cross and this time Shevlin made no mistake with a powerful head from inside the six yard box, despite being under pressure from Larne's goalscorer Simpson.

It was now anyone's game and the pendulum almost swung Larne's way again with 10 minutes to go when substitute O'Hara's dipping right footed effort from 25 yards came back off the crossbar.

However, Coleraine went up the other end and completed the comeback less than minute later with the danger once again coming down the left.

This time Doherty's cross deflected perfectly into the path of Cooper and his first time half volley from the edge of the box bounced up off the ground, before flying past a stranded Rohan Ferguson.

Larne: Ferguson, Ridley, Donnelly, O'Neill ('86 Gibson), Doherty ('86 Ukek), Millar, McEneff, Cosgrove, Sloan ('62 O'Hara), Bent, Simpson

Subs: Carney, McKendry, Randall, Sandiford

Coleraine: Webb, Kane ('56 McDonald), Boyle ('56 Ives), Stewart ('71 Slevin), Patching, Shevlin, Cooper, Wilson, Wylie ('64 Brooks), Doherty, Thomson

Subs: Schofield, Henderson, Devine

Referee: Tim Marshall