Irish Premiership leaders Larne suffered a stunning 4-1 defeat to Coleraine at Inver Park, severely denting their title ambitions and allowing rivals Glentoran to close the gap at the summit to just three points.
A disastrous first half saw Larne reduced to ten men after Dan Bent's dismissal, setting the stage for a Coleraine onslaught. Matthew Shevlin opened the scoring within two minutes, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to round the goalkeeper and slot home. Despite a brief resurgence—Andy Ryan equalized from the penalty spot just before halftime—Larne crumbled under pressure.
Ben Wylie's header restored Coleraine's lead, followed by a Will Patching penalty and Shevlin's second goal, sealing a comprehensive victory that exposed Larne's vulnerabilities.
"We were clinical when it mattered and fully deserved the result," a Coleraine spokesperson remarked post-match. "Taking advantage of their red card was crucial."
Glentoran seized the opportunity, grinding out a tense 2-1 win over Cliftonville at Solitude. Jordan Stewart's first-half strike and Pat Hoban's header gave them a commanding lead, though Joe Gormley's late goal for Cliftonville set up a nervy finish. Glentoran survived a late scare, with the woodwork denying them twice, to secure a vital three points.
Elsewhere, the relegation battle intensified as bottom side Crusaders snatched a dramatic 94th-minute equalizer through Lloyd Anderson in a 1-1 draw with Bangor. Glenavon also drew 1-1 with Ballymena United, keeping them off the bottom only on goal difference.
In other fixtures, Linfield rallied from a goal down to beat Dungannon Swifts 3-1, while Portadown and Carrick Rangers shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate. The results leave the title race wide open, with every point critical in the season's final stretch.