Larne close in on retaining the title after drama

Late Glens own goal gives Invermen crucial success as they go three points clear of Blues

GLENTORAN 1 LARNE 2

THERE was incredible late drama at The Oval as an own goal handed Larne a precious three points to keep them top.

Coupled with Coleraine’s late leveller at Windsor, it means Larne are three points clear of Linfield going into the final two games of the season, including the huge first versus second clash at Windsor.

It looked for most of the second half like Larne would slip from top spot.

Andy Ryan fired Larne into an early lead in this one, but their lead was cancelled out early in the second half by Cian Bolger’s bizarre looping own goal.

However, an unfortunate own goal from Jonny Russell in the 96th minute sparked wild scenes of celebration in the away end as the reigning champions ended up extending their lead at the top.

Larne came into the game with captain Bolger returning from suspension and injury which had ruled him out of their last two games but were without Ro-shaun Williams, who limped off in the 8-1 victory over Cliftonville at the weekend.

Glentoran, meanwhile, welcomed back Seanan Clucas from suspension, but were still without the services of Aidan Wilson, James Singleton and David Fisher, who went off injured in the weekend defeat to Coleraine.

In all, Declan Devine made five changes to his line-up from the 2-1 loss at The Showgrounds.

Larne took the early lead with eight minutes on the clock.

Tomas Cosgrove played a searching ball down the right flank to leave Andy Ryan one-onone with Paddy Mcclean.

The Scottish striker still had a lot of work to do, but he cut into the box on his left foot before rifling a low effort past Aaron Mccarey for his 22nd League goal of the season to help cement him as the leader for the golden boot.

Larne almost replicated the goal soon afterwards when Lee Bonis was found on the left flank this time, but he cut out and dragged his shot two yards wide.

Glentoran almost made them pay at the end at the opposite end when a mix-up allowed Shay Mccartan behind the Larne byline, but again Ferguson denied him from a tight angle. Almost immediately, Larne were presented with a great opportunity to double their lead.

Good work from Sean Graham saw him stand up a cross to the back post which found Mark Randall and he laid it back into the path of Leroy Millar, but his stabbed effort was kept out by Aaron Mccarey, with Joe Thomson unable to get enough power behind the rebound.

In the previous four meetings between the clubs this season, Larne had enjoyed four victories, including the County Antrim Shield Final back in January and they went into the halftime break in the lead in this one.

Glentoran drew level with 57 minutes on in bizarre circumstances. Shay Mccartan’s hopeful ball forward was met by Cian Bolger who attempted a clearance on the edge of his own box but only managed to slice an effort behind him, looping the ball over the top of goalkeeper Ferguson in the process.

With news of Linfield’s two quickfire goals at Windsor Park it meant that Larne found them

selves slipping to second place in the process.

Graham almost managed to restore the lead in spectacular fashion five minutes later, as he cut in from the right flank but with an effort which looked bound for the top corner, Mccarey turned it behind for a corner.

He had another chance on 70 minutes when good play between Andy Ryan and substitute Dylan Sloan saw the midfielder lay it off to the ex-ballymena man and this time he stung the palms of Mccarey with a low shot.

At this point, Larne knew they needed a goal if they were to finish the night on top of the table.

They came agonisingly close to getting it when Sloan’s corner was met at the front post by Andy Ryan’s flicked header, but it came off the underside of the bar before being cleared to safety.

Just as it looked like it was petering out for a draw, Bolger swung in a cross and Russell, trying to clear the ball, could only slide it into his own goal.

GLENTORAN: Mccarey, Kane (80 Burns), Mccartan (90+5 O’connor), Marshall, Donnelly, Sule, Clucas, Murphy, Mcclean, Russell, Junior (88 Mclaughlin). Subs not used: Webber, Lindsay, Toal, Mcginn

LARNE: Ferguson, Donnelly, Thomson (64 Sloan), Randall (64 Orozco), Bonis, Bolger, Millar, Cosgrove, Graham, Gallagher, Ryan (84 O’neill).

Subs not used: Mcadams, Kearns, Westendorf, Glynn Referee: Keith Kennedy Match Rating: 7/10.