CHASING PACK FAIL TO MAKE UP MUCH GROUND

LARNE’S title hopes suffered another setback as in-form Coleraine climbed to fourth with an impressive 2-1 win at Inver Park.

Tiernan Lynch’s men had a chance to close the gap at the summit and capitalise on Linfield’s 4-3 defeat to Cliftonville at Solitude.

But they were rocked when the Bannsiders took an early 2-0 lead through an early Stephen Lowry penalty and James Mclaughlin’s sixth goal of the season.

Lowry stroked home after Lyndon Kane was fouled inside the area, before Mclaughlin slotted home after latching onto a mistake by Albert Watson (inset).

Watson gave Larne a lifeline when he rose inside the six yard box to head home a John Herron corner in the 74th minute.

And the home side went close to a late leveller when substitute striker Johnny Mcmurray’s acrobatic effort crashed off the crossbar.

“I thought it was a perfect away performance,” said Coleraine captain Stephen O’donnell after a fifth league win on the bounce for Oran Kearney’s men.

“We’ve been producing some good team performances in recent weeks, confidence has been growing and results have followed.”

Crusaders moved up to second and above Larne on goal difference after a 2-2 draw with Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Stephen Baxter’s men led twice through Declan Caddell’s first half strike and Paul Heatley’s breakaway at the start of the second half.

But the Ports hit back through Adam Mccallum in the first half and Lee Bonis, who scrambled home a late equaliser at the death.

Elsewhere, 10-man Glentoran secured a 2-0 win over bottom club

Carrick Rangers thanks to goals in either half from Jay Donnelly and Robbie Mcdaid.

Donnelly, who would see red for a lunge on Mark Surgenor, opened the scoring with a close range header, before Mcdaid rifled home his ninth goal of the season in the 78th minute.

Warrenpoint Town’s home clash with Ballymena United and Dungannon Swifts v Glenavon were both postponed after pitch inspections.

JOY James Mclaughlin after his goal