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.
