EVEN though Larne Ladies are well in the promotion mix, they went to play Mountjoy United in Omagh on Wednesday night still searching for their first away win in the league this season. With the league being so closely fought, nothing less than a win would do.
Mountjoy United is the Inver Women’s longest trip of the season and a 7.30pm kick off made for a quick turnaround. If this proved to be a problem, it didn’t show as Larne started on the front foot, dictating possession in the Mountjoy half.
It took just 15 minutes for the visitors to make the breakthrough. Hannah Robinson broke United’s stubborn resistance by latching onto a ball in the box and firing into the net.
The second came minutes later following some great build up play from the back as Georgia Crawford laid the ball to Helen Curneen who fired a shot from 20 yards into the top corner.
Larne kept the foot on the pedal and the third goal came when Marion Gage picked the ball up in midfield and drove through to the edge of the box and laced a shot into the far corner leaving the keeper no chance.
Mountjoy tried to play their way back into the game, but the Inver Women hit them n the break, and Marion Gage finished it off with a thunderous shot from 25 yards into the top right corner to put Larne four goals clear.
Any doubt as to the outcome was removed on the stroke of half time. Holly Robinson made a surging run from left back to deliver a dangerous cross that Kylie Doherty latched onto, turned in the box and hit her shot into the corner.
The heat on the night saw the tempo drop in the second half in spells, albeit with Larne still dictating possession and moving the ball around well, and the goalscoring continued.
The sixth goal came from one of Elle Houston’s dangerous corners, where Lynsey Noble got onto the end of to poke home.
The final goal of the night came with a well placed defence cutting pass from Georgia Crawford to Holly Robinson who carried the ball into the box and finish neatly passed the onrushing keeper.
It was a great way to end the indifferent away form in the league, and just at the right time with a clean sheet and a range of goalscorers in a great result for the Inver Women.
A particular boost was the debuts of two players who have come through the ranks. Mollie McAllister started at right back and Christine Morton came on for the last half an hour at left back with both putting in great performances on their senior debuts, having done well for the Olympic this season.
All eyes are now on Larne’s last home game of the regular league season next Wednesday when Foyle Belles, who currently top the division, come to Inver Park. Kick off is at 7.30pm. The equation for Larne Ladies is relatively simple at this point. If they win their last two games, they will be guaranteed a playoff place, and could still win the league if results go their way.
LARNE LADIES: Rea, M. McAllister, Lynsey Noble, Beggs, Holly Robinson, Gage, Curneen, E. Houston, Crawford, Doherty, Hannah Robinson.
Subs: Montgomery, Morton, Leworthy
