LARNE, Northern Ireland (Interstat) — Joel Cooper scored twice, including the winner in the 81st minute, as Coleraine erased a two-goal deficit and beat Larne 3-2 at Inver Park on Friday in a Northern Ireland Premiership match.

Larne appeared in control early. James Simpson scored in the 16th minute and again in the 50th, giving the home side a 2-0 lead. Simpson finished with two goals and a yellow card. His booking came in the 24th minute, after Coleraine’s Wilson was cautioned in the 23rd. Larne’s O’Neill was booked in the 42nd. Coleraine struggled to break down Larne’s defense during the first half, but the visitors stayed within reach before halftime.

Coleraine responded after the break. Cooper pulled one back in the 59th minute, finishing a move that changed the match’s momentum. A minute later, Wylie and a Larne player were booked as tempers rose. Coleraine made substitutions involving Boyle and Kane in the 56th minute, while Larne introduced Sloan in the 62nd. Coleraine also made a substitution involving Wylie in the 64th. Ten minutes after Cooper’s first goal, Matthew Shevlin equalized in the 69th minute, turning a 2-0 Larne advantage into a 2-2 contest. Shevlin’s goal capped a patient spell from the visitors, who had begun to find space behind Larne’s midfield.

Cooper then delivered the decisive moment in the 81st minute. His second goal completed the comeback and gave Coleraine a 3-2 lead. Cooper was Coleraine’s top star, with two goals, and Shevlin added one. The late strike left Larne with little time to respond. Larne pushed forward in the final stages, but Coleraine held its shape and saw out the win. Coleraine made a substitution involving Wilson in the 71st minute, and Larne picked up a yellow card in the 77th. Larne made two late substitutions involving Doherty and O’Neill in the 87th minute, but could not find an equalizer.

The match included several disciplinary moments. Coleraine’s Wilson was booked in the 23rd minute, and Larne’s Simpson followed in the 24th. O’Neill received a yellow card in the 42nd. After Cooper’s first goal, Wylie and a Larne player were booked in quick succession in the 60th minute. Larne also picked up a yellow card in the 77th minute. Coleraine made substitutions involving Boyle and Kane in the 56th minute, Wylie in the 64th and Wilson in the 71st. Larne made a substitution involving Sloan in the 62nd and two more involving Doherty and O’Neill in the 87th.

Coleraine’s season record in the competition moved to 10 wins, two losses and one draw. Its overall record also stands at 10 wins, two losses and one draw. Larne’s competition record is now six wins, one loss and one draw, matching its overall record. Coleraine’s victory followed a 1-0 win over Cliftonville in its previous competition match. Larne had won 3-0 at Crusaders in its previous competition outing before Friday.

The teams had played to a scoreless draw in their most recent head-to-head meeting earlier this season. Coleraine’s victory gave the visitors another strong road result, while Larne’s loss ended a run that had produced six wins and a draw in its first seven competition matches before Friday. Coleraine has also posted road wins at Bangor, Glentoran, Portadown and Carrick Rangers during the campaign. Larne’s earlier schedule featured wins over Crusaders, Carrick Rangers, Cliftonville, Portadown, Bangor and Glentoran. Coleraine’s upcoming fixtures include a return match with Larne, plus meetings with Crusaders, Inter Turku, Glentoran, Linfield, Portadown, Carrick Rangers, Dungannon, Limavady and Cliftonville. Larne is set to face Bangor, Portadown, Cliftonville, Dungannon, Ballymena, Glentoran, Linfield, Crusaders, Limavady and Carrick Rangers in its next stretch. Cooper’s second goal separated the sides.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Larne 1, Coleraine 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Larne with a 64.9 percent probability to win.