LARNE STORMING

Shield holders blow away United

LARNE cruised into the last four of the County Antrim Shield with a classy and comfortable win over Ballymena at The Showgrounds.

Scottish midfielder John Herron had the holders ahead early doors before Andrew Scott’s first goal for the club made it 2-0 before the break.

An unfortunate own goal by Jordan Williamson added a third for the visitors on the hour mark, the ball ricocheting in off the keeper from a Ronan Hale overhead.

And Hale bagged a goal of his own in the 84th minute when he added a fourth, rifling home from inside the area after Navid Nasseri’s cross deflected into the striker’s path.

Larne, who beat Glentoran in last year’s final, were simply too good and in truth their slick football and attacking intent might have yielded more goals.

The Inver Reds, who lifted their first senior trophy in 32 years when they won the Shield in

December, were ahead six minutes in when

Herron (right) pounced for his third goal of the season.

United keeper

Williamson parried Ronan Hale’s initial header from a Kofi Balmer cross and Herron was on hand to head home from point blank range.

It was 2-0 and effectively game over when former Accrington Stanley forward Scott fired home his first goal for the Inver Park club a minute before the break.

The lively 21-year-old cut inside to arrow a laser beam of a shot into the top corner with Williamson little more than an onlooker as the ball billowed the net.

It was 3-0 in the 57th minute. Dean Jarvis’ header from a Ben Doherty corner was headed off the line and Hale’s overhead kick ricocheted in off Williamson via the woodwork.

Larne were threatening a rout and it almost got worse for United soon after when Doherty raced inside the area but his rising shot was parried wide by the keeper.

A fourth did arrive in the 84th minute when Hale’s industry was rewarded with his first goal since scoring in a famous 1-1 European draw with Aarhus in July.

It was a long night for Ballymena who had to feed off scraps.

Jonte Smith headed over a Steven Mccullough cross while Larne keeper Michael Argyrides clawed away an inswinging Andy Mcgrory at the near post.