COLERAINE and Larne failed to be separated as the two teams played out a goalless draw at The Showgrounds...

Ruaidhri Higgins elected to make two changes from the opening day win at Dungannon Swifts as Levi Ives started in defence at the expense of the injured Cameron Stewart, with Ben Wylie returning from a one-match ban to replace Senan Devine.

In front of a crowd of almost 3000, Coleraine threatened first with seven minutes on the clock when Will Patching's corner was headed over by Rob Slevin.

Soon after, Patching was involved yet again as the midfielder picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and his wicked shot forced Rohan Ferguson into a smart save.

Larne were content to try and hit Coleraine on the counter attack but the Bannsiders will feel they should have made the breakthrough just before the half hour mark. A clever pass by Matthew Shevlin released Joel Cooper but he was thwarted by an onrushing Rohan Ferguson.

On 36 minutes, the Invermen had Ferguson as the custodian showed tremendous reflexes to save Cooper's shot after he showed trickery to beat two players, with Shevlin unable to keep his rebound on target.

Larne, who will face Lincoln Red Imps for a chance to qualify for the league phase of the Conference League, had their best chance of the first on 41 minutes. A cross by Dylan Sloan was on the money for Matthew Lusty but his goal bound header was tipped to safety by Lewis Webb.

The final opening of the first half landed Coleraine's way as Cooper's pass ripped through the heart of the Larne defence and into the path of Shevlin but his lob went wide of the far post.

Shooting into the Railway End, Coleraine threatened after the restart when Cooper's shot was deflected and into the gloves of Ferguson. A few moments later, Will Patching tried his luck with a free-kick but his strike failed to land below the crossbar.

Just after Cooper failed to keep a driven effort on target, Webb produced another top-drawer save as Conor McKendry's shot from 25 yards looked certain for the top corner but the Coleraine stopper managed to get his hand onto the ball.

Higgins elected to bring on attacking duo Conor McMenamin and Jay Henderson - alongside defender Dean Jarvis - and McMenamin almost had an instant impact as his shot was deflected and tipped over the bar by Ferguson.

Larne's chances mostly came from counter-attacks and it proved that way again as a long ball forward saw Montel Gibson picked out in space. The striker took a neat first touch but he was denied by a smart save by Webb.

The final chance of a goal landed at the boot of Aidan Wilson as the big defender let fly with a shot from 25 yards which fizzed by the far post as both teams had to settle for a point.