A fast start from the hosts saw them take the lead through a Matt Lusty strike from the edge of the area which beat Mason Munn before the winger volleyed home a second on the quarter-hour mark to give the Northern Irish champions a 2-0 lead at the break.
Both sides made several changes in an eventful second 45 minutes as Findlay Curtis halved the deficit shortly after the restart to half the deficit before Blaine McClure dispatched a penalty after appearing from the substitutes bench to level up proceedings.
Fellow substitute Calum Adamson was on hand to head home a Robbie Fraser free-kick to complete the comeback as Rangers warmed up for their SPFL Trust Trophy match on Tuesday evening with a victory.
David McCallum’s team were given a stern test ahead of their competitive fixture against Bo’ness United to come on Tuesday evening, with a mixture of experience and youth in the ranks with the likes of Robbie Fraser and Adam Devine named in the starting lineup.
Sean Graham had the first chance opportunity of the match as the winger looked to opening the scoring. Picking up the ball on the right flank, he cut inside of Robbie Fraser and looked to bend one into the far corner, but it flew just wide of Mason Munn’s right hand post.
It was Andy Ryan who was next to go close for the Northern Irish champions. After multiple headed exchanges inside the area Paul Nsio’s header as he looked to clear fell to the foot of the Larne captain on the day, but his snap shot on the half volley flew over the top.
The home side did go in front moments later as they made the most of their early pressure. Matt Lusty collected the ball at the edge of the area as he dispatched a left footed shot in at the near post to give the Northern Irish side a deserved lead on the day.
The Gers looked to respond quickly as the expense of a corner. Archie Stevens took a low quick one as it was met by Paul Nsio, but his effort was blocked by a trialist as it headed goalwards.
Larne thought they had doubled the lead through Ryan. Levi Ives the left-back clipped a ball into the box as it was met on the volley by the forward, but the striker’s finish past Munn was ruled out by the assistant for offside on the near side.
It was the home side who did double their lead and it was Lusty that popped up with a goal once again. Midfielder Chris Gallagher produced a clever switch of play which was brought down by winger Conor McKendry, he fired the ball into the box which was met on the volley by the winger who turned it into the back of the net to grab his second goal of the game.
There was a spell of possession to follow for the Gers with few chances still created, as they looked to respond and settle into proceedings and build themselves back into the game.
Nsio was the one who produced their first effort of the match for the away side. The young midfielder drove forward and attacked the Larne backline, but his shot was dragged left of Rohan Ferguson’s right hand post with the goalkeeper having it covered.
The Northern Irish side almost found a third before the interval. Lusty looked to be the provider this time as he cut the ball back to McKendry, but his effort that was heading goalwards was blocked brilliantly by Connor Allan who put his body on the line to stop a third hitting the back of the net.
The last of the first half action was again for the hosts who looked to build on their advantage. McKendry again popped up from the left flank having provided danger to the Gers backline on several occasions, but his shot was seen over the top by Munn.
Rangers started the second half fast and got themselves back into the game almost straight away. Josh Gentles drove forward and was fouled but the referee waved play on as Nsio picked it up. His strike was initially saved before Findlay Curtis smashed home the rebound to half the deficit.
Larne looked to react and get their two-goal lead back almost immediately. Andy Ryan stood over a free-kick on the edge of the area before unleashing a left footed shot that smashed the crossbar and stayed out before Conor McKendry volleyed wide the rebound.
There was another chance for the hosts to grab a third and this time Sean Graham couldn’t get the desired power on an Andy Ryan cross. All free at the back post he just had Munn to beat but headed the effort into the ground and into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Gentles was involved as Rangers grew into proceedings again. Chris Eadie did well to hold the ball up and play in the fellow forward, but his well struck effort was parried behind and kept out as Larne managed to clear the danger.
It was Archie Stevens next to have a go as Rangers mounted up further pressure. He cut inside from the left after swapping channels but his effort snuck wide of the near post and stayed out.
Eadie was growing into the game in a striker role as he created a chance for himself, taking on the defender on the edge of the area but again the shot stopper between the Larne posts turned it behind to keep his side in front.
Munn was called into action again at the other end, this time it was McKendry again from close range after some sloppy play in the Gers backline, but the Northern Irishman stood tall to make the stop to keep the Light Blues in the game.
That moment proved vital as Rangers had a glorious chance to level up proceedings. A long ball over the top by Robbie Fraser seeked out substitute Calum Adamson, he was brave in the challenge as he took a hit from goalkeeper Dylan Graham who fouled him as the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Blaine McClure stepped up and dispatched the kick into the bottom left hand corner as McCallum’s side levelled up the match with time remaining to find a winner.
They did that towards the end as the impressive Adamson got his reward by flicking on a Fraser free kick at the near post. The youngster met it with his head to turn it into the back of the net to flip the match on its head completely.
The scorer of the third almost found the back of the net again but dragged his left footed chance wide as the Gers held on to complete the comeback and claim a productive pre-season win ahead of their SPFL Trust Trophy match on Tuesday evening against Bo’ness United at Cappielow Park.
LARNE: Ferguson (Graham 45), Graham (Glynn 64), Cosgrove (O’Neill 64), Trialist A (Bolger 45), Donnelly (Brown 64), Ives (Altintop 64), Randall (Thomson 45), Gallagher (Sloan 45), McKendry (Eakin 81), Ryan (Want 64), Lusty (Smith 75)
SUBS: Cowan, Ajala
RANGERS B: Munn, Devine, Allan, Webster, Fraser, Rice (Adamson 61), Nsio (Robertson 61), Curtis (Harkness 61), Gentles (Burnside 69), Stevens (McClure 77), Eadie
SUBS: Halliwell, Hutton, Allen, Scott