Report: Peter Wilson
Photo: Bill Guiller
Larne booked their place in the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Shield after a 2-0 win over Ballyclare Comrades.
Goals from Albert Watson and Dean Jarvis were enough for the Invermen to see off the Comrades and set-up a meeting at home to Crusaders in Tuesday’s last eight clash.
Larne had an early chance in the secondminute when Marty Donnelly chipped the ball into Mark Randall from outside the box. His header was gathered by Jack Ferguson in the Ballyclare goal, however.
After 20 minutes, the first goal of the afternoon arrived. Josh Robinson’s header was saved by Ferguson. In the follow-up, Albert Watson’s shot had too much power for the keeper as it nestled in the back of the net.
The game remained scrappy for much of the first half with little in the way of notable action in front of goal.
On 41 minutes though John Herron struck the ball well from 25 yards, but dipped just over the bar.
Half-time: Larne 1 Ballyclare Comrades 0
It took Larne until the 58thminute to produce another opportunity when Dean Jarvis’ low shot on the left-hand side of the box flashed just wide of the right post.
On 68 minutes, Mark Randall played Davy McDaid straight through on goal but the flag was raised for offside as the keeper pulled off a good save from close-range.
The second goal came with 72 minutes gone as Jarvis’ free kick from 27 yards took an unfortunate deflection off the Comrades wall and flew into the bottom left corner, with the ‘keeper left rooted to the spot.
Fuad Sule came close to number three when he lashed the ball from 25 yards, but Ferguson did well to hold on to the ball.
With six minutes to go, Donnelly strode forward and played the ball out to Ronan Hale on the left wing. His low finish was came close to hitting the target, but flew just across the face of goal.
Full-time: Larne 2 Ballyclare Comrades 0
Larne:Devlin, Watson, Robinson, Herron (A Mitchell 80’), Sule, Randall (Hale 73’), McDaid, Donnelly, Cosgrove, Hughes (c), Jarvis
Unused Subs:C Mitchell, Kelly, Lynch, Murr, Wade-Slater
Ballyclare Comrades:Ferguson, Woods, McCune, Crawford, McCart (c) (Malone 16’), C Dobbin, Beggs, O’Neill (Johnston 73’), McDermott, Gray, Hassin (Donnelly 73’)
Unused Subs: McCauley, McIlveen, Robinson, J Dobbin
Referee:Evan Boyce
Larne have two games coming up over the next week. The Invermen play Crusaders at home in the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Shield on Tuesday 13 October (7.45pm). They are also in action on Saturday 17 October against Dungannon Swifts in their first Premiership game of the season (3pm).
