WINNING IT BY STOPPAGE

Incredible one-two combo floors Linfield and leaves Larne on brink of the title

LINFIELD’S title hopes are hanging by a thread as they let two valuable points slip out of their grasp right at the death against Colraine.

Goals from Matthew Fitzpatrick and Chris Shields had flipped the game on its head at Windsor Park, cancelling out Jamie Mcgonigle’s first half strike for the Bannsiders.

But just when it seemed the Blues would claim a crucial win, up popped Matthew Shevlin to head home a 96th minute equaliser to break his former side’s heart.

The result leaves them trailing Larne – who nabbed an injury-time winner last night – by three points in the race for the Gibson Cup.

The Blues made only one change to the side which grabbed a last-gasp win over Crusaders on Friday evening with Chris Mckee replacing Matthew Fitzpatrick in attack.

The Bannsiders made two changes to the side which beat Glentoran on Saturday as Stephen O’donnell and Aidan Tejada dropped out for Kieran Farren and Alfie Gaston, fresh from winning the Centenary Shield with Northern Ireland and coming in for his first Premiership start.

The Bannsiders carved out the first real opening of the game on 14 minutes as Matthew Shevlin met Jack Scott’s deep cross at the back post, but his header was straight at Chris Johns.

Shevlin had another header from a Jamie Glackin cross on 25 minutes but again it didn’t trouble Johns in the Linfield goal, who gathered well.

Gaston almost made it a full debut to remember as he left Linfield defenders in his wake on 35 minutes, cutting into the box before curling an effort wide of the far post.

A minute before the break we had the decisive moment of the first half as Josh Carson’s slide rule pass sent Mcgonigle in on goal, and he coolly slotted under Johns to give Coleraine a deserved lead.

Unsurprisingly Linfield were out early for the second half with their manager’s words probably still ringing in their ears.

And they got the perfect response inside seven minutes of the restart as half-time sub Fitzpatrick glanced home Millar’s cross to draw the sides level.

It was to get even better for the Blues before the hour mark as they edged in front.

They were still smarting for not being awarded a penalty for what looked like a clear handball by Graham Kelly from Mckee’s shot, which led to David Healy being booked.

But 60 seconds later they were awarded a spot kick as Kelly was deemed to have fouled Fitzpatrick and Shields slotted in from 12 yards.

To their credit Coleraine kept plugging away and after a period of sustained pressure they got their just rewards right at the death as Lee Lynch crossed for Shevlin to head in from close range and leave the Blues shellshocked.