Larne extend lead at top after late winner and Linfield stumble

Larne grabbed a last-minute winner to earn a 2-1 win over Glentoran as Linfield conceded in injury-time to be held to a 2-2 draw by Coleraine.

Glens defender Jonny Russell netted an own goal in the dying seconds while, at the same time, Matthew Shevlin headed home to level for Coleraine at Windsor Park.

The late drama means that Larne are three points ahead of Linfield with two games remaining.

The title rivals face off in Monday's penultimate game at Windsor Park.

Elsewhere, Stephen Baxter won his final north Belfast derby in charge of Crusaders after a 2-1 win over Cliftonville at Seaview.

In the lower half of the table, Newry City were consigned to bottom place with a 3-1 defeat by Carrick Rangers while Ballymena United defeated Glenavon 1-0.

Dungannon Swifts fought past Loughgall 2-0 in Tuesday's sixth match.

More to follow.

The drama for both title protagonists means that Larne hold a three-point advantage heading into Monday's penultimate match of the season between the sides at Windsor Park.

At the Oval, league champions Larne took the lead in the ninth minute when Chris Gallagher won a tackle in midfield and played the ball to Andy Ryan in the right-hand channel. The Scottish striker ran at Paddy McClean before cutting inside and firing a low shot beyond Aaron McCarey.

Both sides spurned good chances to score with Shay McCartan’s shot blocked by the foot of Rohan Ferguson and the former Northern Ireland international then blazed the rebound over.

Then at the other end, Mark Randall teed up Leroy Millar whose scuffed shot was saved by McCarey and Joe Thomson couldn’t force the rebound home.

Glentoran equalised in fortuitous fashion on 57 minutes when Cian Bolger miscued his clearance from Shay McCartan’s cross which looped over Ferguson and into the net.

Larne came close to regaining the lead when Sean Graham cut inside onto his left foot and his powerful drive was parried away by McCarey.

The visitors also spurned a glorious chance on 76 minutes when Andy Ryan’s near post header from Dylan Sloan’s corner looped into the air and came off the underside of the bar and the post with no Larne player on hand to convert.

With the game deep in stoppage time, there was an unbelievable late twist as Cian Bolger lumped the ball into the Glentoran penalty area and Glens defender Johnny Russell, at full stretch, could only divert the ball past his own keeper.

At the same time as Russell put into his own net, Linfield were pegged back by Coleraine across Belfast as Matthew Shevlin earned the Bannsiders a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Coleraine led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a cool finish from Jamie McGonigle a minute before the break but they were unable to stem the Blues' tide in the second half.

It was a different story after half-time as Linfield turned the game on its head thanks to the introduction of Matthew Fitzpatrick.

He headed home Kirk Millar's cross to level before winning the penalty, converted by Chris Shields, to edge his side in front just before the hour.

Chris McKee came close to extending the lead when his shot was hacked off the line by Coleraine 'keeper Rory Brown.

David Healy's men looked to have down enough but Shevlin struck in the seventh minute of added time to level.