Win at new-look Inver will drive us on, warns Hughes
JEFF Hughes says Larne are hungry for more big occasions after helping his hometown club to a 2-1 win over a Rangers XI at Inver Park.
The former Northern Ireland international broke the deadlock with a classy finish in front of 2,086 fans for the official reopening of the ground.
Building has been going on both on and off the pitch at Inver Park, with Tiernan Lynch building a squad which is targeting promotion, and the installation of a new artificial pitch, floodlights, VIP lounge and doubling the capacity of the main stand.
The club have been averaging 1,000 fans so far in the Championship, which they lead by four points, and more than double that were in attendance last night.
Hughes believes the win against Graeme Murty’s young guns will give them a confidence boost as they bid to get promoted to the top tier.
“It was a great occasion and it reinforces that desire to have those sort of nights on a regular basis,” said the former Tranmere Rovers player.
“It was a really good test for us against a very good young side, who were good on the ball and capable of moving us around the pitch.
“On the balance of clear-cut chances I thought we edged it though, and it was great to see the whole squad involved and doing so well.
“I certainly don’t remember a crowd like that at Inver Park, so it was fantastic to see.”
Among the crowd was former Northern Ireland international Iain Dowie and Talksport pundit Mick Quinn, friends of Larne owner Kenny Bruce, who has financed the project to the tune of nearly £2million thus far.
They helped cut the ribbon at the ground, alongside Mid and East Antrim Chief Executive Anne Donaghy and chairman Gareth Clements.
When the action got under way it was a bright start for the visitors, who adapted well to Inver’s new artificial surface. Veteran goalkeeper Michael Dougherty, in the home goal, made a smart stop to prevent Murty’s side taking the lead when he saved Jack Thomson’s low effort.
It was Hughes who broke the deadlock at the other end, though, when he showed his class to turn on the edge of the box and curl past Aidan McAdams.
The home side doubled the lead on 67 minutes, when David Scullion controlled Shane McEleney’s through ball into the path of English midfielder Andrew Osei-Bonsu and the former MK Dons midfielder stroked the ball low into the corner.
A number of changes followed for both sides, but the visitors had the last word, pulling a goal back seven minutes from time.
Joshua McPake slammed the ball home from 10 yards, but a comeback never really looked on the cards as Tiernan Lynch’s side held out for victory on a memorable evening at Inver Park.