David Healy’s Linfield produced a late triple whammy to keep their title ambitions on the boil at Taylor’s Avenue.
The Blues appeared to be heading to their second defeat in eight days against a gutsy Carrick Rangers, who led courtesy of an early goal from Linfield old boy Joe Crowe.
But with only 13 minutes left, midfielder Kyle McClean shot the Blues level before the irrepressible Joel Cooper bagged a precious second goal, sending the big visiting contingent of fans into raptures.
Just to put the icing on the cake, Chris Shields rammed home a spot kick in injury time. The victory helped Linfield extend their lead at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership table to five points.
Following last weekend’s dramatic draw at Glenavon, Rangers boss Stephen Baxter made three changes to his starting eleven drafting in goalkeeper Ben McCauley – for the suspended Ross Glendinning – David Cushley and Curtis Allen.
Paul Heatley – he was also banned – and defender Mark Surgenor dropped out.
Healy also reshaped his team after his boys slumped to a home lost to cross town rivals Cliftonville. He did spring a surprise by replacing regular number one Chris Johns, with David Walsh, while skipper Jamie Mulgrew and Ethan McGee also returned.
Joe Crowe celebrates his early goal with his Carrick Rangers teammates
Midfielder duo Josh Archer and Charlie Allen had to settle for a place on the bench.
Rangers got off to the perfect start with that Crowe goal after only three minutes.
Kyle Cherry’s corner kick ricocheted off the head of Luke McCullough and pin-pong around the box until the ball fell to Crowe, who drilled low and hard past Walsh.
The home team threatened again on 15 minutes. Another Cherry corner kick was met by the head of Luke McCullough, but he could only direct his effort wide of the target.
But the Blues weathered the early storm and began to get a foothold in the game, mainly through the impressive Kirk Millar, operating on the left wing.
On one mazy run, he skipped past the challenge of Kurtis Forsythe before whipping in a low cross that was expertly dealt with by McCauley.
Then, after cutting in from the left, he let fly with a thunderbolt from 25 yards that McCauley was relieved to see flash just over the crossbar.
But Rangers fans were almost treated to a Cushley special just over the half-hour when he attempted an audacious trademark volley from 30 yards the skipped dangerously on the wet surface, but wide off the mark.
And, with the clock ticking down to half-time, Nedas Maciulaitis produced a little bit of magic on the left before drilling in the most delicious of deliveries that was taken off the toe of Allen by the alert Euan East.
Linfield’s Joe Cooper scored the crucial second goal
The Blues had another let off after the restart. Cushley’s corner kick from the right eluded everyone in the box and bounced off the base of the post.
Linfield fans were then appealing for a penalty just on the hour when Millar’s cross from the left appeared to bounce off the arm of Maciulaitis, but referee Tim Marshall wasn’t convinced.
Healy’s boys began to up the ante. The enigmatic Cooper burst down the right only to see his curling effort clutched by McCauley.
And, the Carrick shot-stopper was called into action again, this time managing to flick an East shot over the top, following great work on the right by Millar.
Rangers finally caved in 13 minutes from time. Fitzgerald did well to hold off a challenge from Crowe, feeding the ball back to McClean, who drilled home from the edge of the box.
It got even better for the Blues. Just two minutes later, Cooper cut in from the right and tried his luck with a speculative low drive from 20 yards that crept under the arms of the diving McCauley.
Linfield sealed the deal in added time when Matthew Fitzpatrick went down under a challenge from McCullough inside the box. Shields stepped up to confidently send the ball into the bottom corner.
CARRICK RANGERS: McCauley, Forsythe, Cushley (Andrews 69), Allen (McGuckin 78), Maciulaitis, McCullough, Buchanan-Rollerston, Clucas (Surgenor 81), Crowe, Cherry, Gibson.
Unused subs: McDowell, Given, Kelly, Trimble.
LINFIELD: Walsh, East, Whiteside, Shields, Millar, McClean, Cooper, Mulgrew, McGee (Allen 71), Fitzpatrick, Orr.
Unused subs: Johns, McBrien, Ballantyne, Archer, McCullough, Annett.
REFEREE: Tim Marshall.
Man of the Match: Euan East.
Match rating 7/10.
Just half an hour ago, David Healy was getting dogs abuse from some Linfield supporters
Ben McAuley really should have stopped that. It’s a painful goal for Carrick
Kirk Millar’s cross is only half cleared – Joel Cooper lays it back into the path of McClean, who drills a low shot into the corner of McAuley’s net from 15 yards
It’s a yellow card. I tell you, that’s a straight red in most other top flights across Europe.
I’m not sure the McGee in midfield experiment worked out for David Healy.
Allen is man with the magic in his boots to open this stubborn Carrick defence up
Linfield are getting closer.