Cooper double seals Coleraine comeback from 2-0 down at Larne

Joel Cooper scored twice as Coleraine recovered from two goals down to beat champions Larne 3-2 at Inver Park on Friday. The victory ended Larne's unbeaten start to the league season, with Matthew Shevlin also scoring as the visitors overturned a deficit established by James Simpson's double.

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According to The Irish News, Simpson put Larne ahead in the 16th minute after Tomas Cosgrove combined with Paul O'Neill and supplied the finish. Simpson struck again five minutes into the second half, receiving Dan Bent's pass and curling a shot in off the far post to make it 2-0.

Cooper began the comeback around the hour mark, reacting after Shevlin's header was blocked. Shevlin then headed the equaliser nine minutes later. With nine minutes of normal time remaining, Cooper struck again after a deflected cross reached him, completing a sequence of three Coleraine goals that transformed the result.

Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins told BBC Sport NI he was particularly pleased that his players had responded positively to conceding the second goal rather than losing confidence. He praised their second-half performance and said the comeback would strengthen their belief. Cooper also highlighted the squad's determination and confidence in its ability to score, while Higgins remained reluctant to attach wider significance to the result.

For Larne manager Gary Haveron, the defensive collapse was the central concern. BBC Sport NI reported that his side had conceded only three goals in seven league matches before Friday, a total Coleraine doubled in one evening. Haveron criticised the defending but stressed that the teams still had further meetings ahead and that much of the season remained to be played.

The NI Football League's table lists Coleraine on 31 points from 12 matches, six ahead of Linfield, who have played 10. Those games in hand leave room for the gap to change. Larne are scheduled to host Linfield on October 20, while Coleraine's next league fixture is away to Crusaders at Seaview on October 24.