Larne survive fightback but Carrick left to rue wasted chances
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LARNE had to survive a spirited second-half fightback by Carrick Rangers to record backto-back wins for the first time since December and consolidate third place in the table.
A breakaway goal in stoppage time, scored by substitute Conor Mckendry, gave an unfair reflection to the scoreline after the struggling home side had dominated the second half.
The teams traded penalties in the first 20 minutes but John Herron’s 34th-minute goal gave Larne the advantage which they belatedly extended, condemning Carrick to their sixth successive home defeat.
Boss Niall Currie relegated six of the side that lost 7-0 to Linfield on Saturday to the bench, including goalkeeper Geoff Mckinty, but defenders Chris Ramsey and Steven Gordon both survived the cull.
They were under pressure from the start with Marty Donnelly, one of three changes in the Larne side, shooting over.
On 10 minutes, Carrick were not so lucky as Caolan Loughran charged into Mark Randall in the penalty box and Andrew Mitchell drove in the spot-kick.
Seven minutes later, however, the home side were back in the game when Loughran converted Carrick’s penalty, although Larne appeared to have genuine complaints against the decision given for a foul by Albert Watson on Lloyd Anderson.
Carrick could have been in front with their next attack but although Cathair Friel was unmarked 12 yards out to receive Kyle Cherry’s centre, he made a mess of his header.
Larne made him pay with a superb finish by Herron, who nipped in ahead of Gordon to deflect Graham Kelly’s cross in.
The defence may have been responsible for Carrick’s last three defeats, during which they conceded 15 goals, but it was the strikers who were letting them down here, as a second poor header, this time from Jordan Gibson, failed to threaten the goal from another perfect Cherry delivery.
Cherry then took it upon himself to force Conor Devlin into a save, a low stooping header from Anderson’s cross as Carrick went in search of the equaliser, which would have been no more than they deserved. The third Larne goal was cruel.
CARRICK RANGERS: Hogg; Ramsey, Gordon, Loughran; Kelly; Chapman, Anderson, Cherry (Storey 89), Smith, Friel (Jenkins 76), Gibson.
Subs not used: Mckinty, Forsythe, Neale, Rodgers, Glendinning.
LARNE: Devlin; Watson, Robinson, Hughes; A Mitchell; Cosgrove, Herron, Donnelly (Mckendry 75), Randall (Lynch 69), Kelly; Mcdaid (Hale 69).
Subs not used: C Mitchell, Mottley-henry, Wade Slater, Mcmurray.
Referee: Keith Kennedy (Lisburn)
Man of the match: Kyle Cherry
Match rating: 7/10