Cooper double lifts Coleraine to 3-2 comeback win at Larne

Coleraine recovered from two goals down to beat champions Larne 3-2 at Inver Park on Friday, with Joel Cooper scoring twice to complete the comeback. The result ended Larne's unbeaten start to the Irish Premiership season and kept Coleraine at the top of the table after an away win over a direct title rival.

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James Simpson had put Larne in control with goals either side of half-time. According to The Irish News, his opener came in the 16th minute after Tomas Cosgrove combined with Paul O'Neill before setting him up. Simpson then doubled the lead five minutes after the restart, finishing off the far post following a pass from Dan Bent.

Cooper reduced the deficit around the hour, reacting after a Matthew Shevlin header was blocked. Shevlin supplied the equaliser with a header nine minutes later, before Cooper struck the winner with nine minutes of normal time remaining. The Irish News reported that his decisive first-time effort followed a deflected cross, leaving Larne unable to protect the advantage they had established.

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins told BBC Sport NI that his players' response to conceding the second goal was the most satisfying part of the victory. He praised their refusal to lose belief and their improved second-half performance. Larne manager Gary Haveron criticised his team's defending: BBC Sport reported that the hosts had conceded only three goals in their opening seven league games before allowing another three on Friday.

The NI Football League's updated standings listed Coleraine on 31 points from 12 matches, six points ahead of Linfield, who had played 10. Larne remained on 19 points from eight games. Those differences in matches played remain important to the title picture: Coleraine have points secured, but both chasing clubs still have fixtures in hand. Friday's result does not remove that qualification from the leaders' advantage.

Larne's next league fixture is at home to Linfield on October 20, according to the league's schedule. Coleraine are due to visit Crusaders at Seaview on October 24. For Higgins's side, that next away assignment follows a win secured by three second-half goals after the champions had threatened to take control of the contest.