Substitute Lewis McGregor fired home the winner in the final seconds of the game to seal a dramatic 2-1 win for Coleraine over Glentoran at the Oval.

The game appeared to be heading for a 1-1 draw before McGregor pounced in added time to extend the league leaders' unbeaten run to 14 games.

Earlier, Joe Thomson had broken the deadlock against his former employers after he came off the bench before fellow substitute, Jordan Jenkins, equalised for the home side with less than 10 minutes remaining.

It was a disappointing end to the game for the home side who held their own against the league leaders despite a turbulent start to the week following manager Declan Devine's departure on Monday.

Coleraine settled early and created a number of good chances inside the opening quarter.

First, Matthew Shevlin raced on to a long ball out of defence from Ben Doherty before testing Glentoran goalkeeper Billy Crellin with a crisp shot from 12 yards.

Moments later, Will Patching and Jay Henderson combined to create an opening for Joel Cooper, but the former Linfield man's first-time shot went the wrong side of the crossbar.

Shevlin really should have done better when, again, presented with another opportunity by the impressive Doherty with the unmarked striker lifting his shot over the crossbar from close range.

Glentoran, too, had their chances, forcing Coleraine goalkeeper Lewis Webb into a number of fine saves in an entertaining first half.

First, he dived acrobatically low to his left to block Greg Sloggett's volley from distance, before getting down low at his near post to divert Jordan Stewart's low drive away for a corner.

Ross Clarke's strength saw him outmuscle Ben Doherty but no one in a Glentoran could get on the end of his inviting ball across the face of goal.

The visitors again were on the front foot in the early stages of the second half and Joel Cooper twice went close, but could not find a way past stopper Crellin.

However, Coleraine broke the deadlock with just under 20 minutes remaining thanks to second-half sub Thomson.

The former Glentoran man, on the pitch only a matter of minutes, was quickest to react when the ball fell to him after Matthew Shevlin had challenged Crellin to a Ben Doherty cross, drilling a low shot past a number of covering defenders.

The Glens weren't behind for long as substitute Jenkins levelled with seven minutes remaining, capitalising on some hesitant Coleraine defending to nip in and force the ball over the line from eight yards.

But there was still more drama to come as yet another sub - McGregor - reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the Glentoran penalty area to sweep home what proved to be the winner deep into additional time.

Glentoran coach Paddy McCourt: "I felt it's the story of our season so far, we gave away really poor goals.

"I thought our performance was better than it has been but unless we start being more solid at the back and making it harder for teams to score then it's going to be very difficult to win football matches.

"We're really disappointed with the goals we conceded but I thought there was a lot of spirit on show out there which there should be anyway, but it probably has been lacking at times this season.

"That culminates in the manager losing his job so disappointed with the goals, but I thought there was plenty of effort there."

Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins: "Dramatic is the right word. I actually didn't know were so deep into injury time whenever we got the winner, so I was delighted when I heard that.

"It's a huge win and it summarises the last four or five days for us. It shows the character we have in our group to turn potentially two points into six which is huge.

"First half an hour we were really good but the last 15 minutes of the first half they were better than us.

"I thought we had the majority of the game in the second half and to respond in the way that we did to them scoring shows great character and is a credit to our players."